Club News

Season review: April

11th June 2017

Bolton Wanderers capped off the 2016/17 Sky Bet League One campaign in style as they clinched automatic promotion to the Championship at the first time of asking.

Macron Stadium hosted its biggest crowd of the year at the start of April as 23,376 piled in to see Phil Parkinson's men fight out a 0-0 draw with Chesterfield.

Next in action away at Southend United, Mark Beevers' dramatic stoppage-time winner clinched what would prove to be a vital 1-0 victory come the end of the season.

Falling to back-to-back 1-0 losses for the first time since January put an end to the Whites' title hopes as they slipped to defeat away at both Scunthorpe United and Oldham Athletic, before drawing 0-0 at home with local-rivals Bury.

David Wheater and Gary Madine were both on the scoresheet for Bolton in their penultimate game of the season as they won 2-0 away at Port Vale in a fixture which could have clinched promotion with a game to go.

However, a last-minute winner from promotion-rivals Fleetwood Town away at Gillingham ensured the battle would go to the final day as the Trotters were made to wait to clinch the division's runners-up spot.

Finishing their campaign at home to Peterborough United, Jem Karacan's first half volley calmed nerves before second half strikes from Wheater and Adam Le Fondre claim a comfortable 3-0 victory to clinch their return to the second tier at the first time of asking.

PLAYER OF THE SEASON: David Wheater

David Wheater was unsurprisingly revealed as Wanderers' Player of the Season and Players' Player of the Season at the club's End of Season Awards Dinner.

The Whites' standout performer throughout the year, the defender made 49 appearances in all competitions and scored an impressive nine goals to help Bolton seal promotion.

MEMORABLE MATCH: Bolton 3-0 Peterborough United

Bolton Wanderers secured an immediate return to the Sky Bet Championship after easing to a convincing 3-0 victory over Peterborough United to clinch automatic promotion.

The deadlock was broken halfway through the first period, with Jem Karacan coolly guiding the ball home from close range and it was two soon after the restart as David Wheater headed the ball past Luke McGee.

It was three with 14 minutes remaining too, with Adam Le Fondre getting in on the action with a drilled effort - the icing on the cake of what was an afternoon to remember for all associated with Bolton Wanderers Football Club

APRIL RESULTS:

Chesterfield (H) D 0-0

Southend United (A) W 0-1

Scunthorpe United (A) L 1-0

Oldham Athletic (A) L 1-0

Bury (H) D 0-0

Port Vale (A) W 0-2

Peterborough United (H) W 3-0

APRIL APPEARANCES:

Mark Howard 7

Dorian Dervite 7

Mark Beevers 7