Bolton Wanderers fell to a 1-0 defeat against Hull City in the Sky Bet Championship at the University of Bolton Stadium.
Team News
Manager Phil Parkinson made seven changes to the line-up that started at Nottingham Forest.
Mark Beevers, Pawel Olkowski and Marc Wilson came in for David Wheater, Mark Little and Andrew Taylor.
As well as this, a suspended Jason Lowe was replaced by Erhun Oztumer, with Christian Doidge, Lloyd Dyer and Clayton Donaldson coming in for Josh Magennis, Yanic Wildschut and Craig Noone.
First Half
Seven minutes in and Hull City took the lead, as a Kamil Grosicki low cross into the area was left by Jarrod Bowen for Fraizer Campbell to slot underneath Ben Alnwick.
Bolton nearly responded perfectly on the ten minute mark, with Christian Doidge played through on goal, before a Tommy Elphick diving block prevented his effort from reaching the target.
Hull went up the other end in a flash, with Campbell again having a sight on goal and producing an effort from 20 yards that petered wide.
Joe Williams beat Tigers captain Markus Henriksen to the ball shortly after, smashing a shot just wide of the far post with keeper David Marshall beaten.
A one-two between Oztumer and Doidge set up a chance from the edge of the area for the Turkish man, but his strike wasn’t the cleanest as it flew wide of the mark.
A fantastic chance followed for the Wanderers with 25 minutes, with a counter attacking starting after a Christian Doidge knockdown sent Oztumer away.
The midfielder ran through the middle of the pitch before setting away Donaldson one-on-one, but the Jamaican’s effort was inches away from the equaliser.
A Hull City breakaway just after the half hour put Wanderers under pressure, but the resulting Grosicki curled effort was far away from Alnwick’s goal.
Oztumer began to run the show, with a quick change of pace following a Josh Vela pass saw a right footed shot open up but sail wide.
Another chance came for the Whites, with Doidge running with menace at the Tigers backline, slotting in Donaldson but his strike only found the side netting.
An Oztumer free-kick three minutes from the break found Marc Wilson’s head, but the towering centre-half couldn’t direct it towards Marshall’s net.
Second Half
Wanderers started in the ascendancy, as Donaldson nipped past his man and put a fierce delivery into the area to find Vela.
The midfielder followed up with a strong strike of his own but Marshall was equal to it in the Tigers net.
Oztumer was at it again ten minutes after the restart, as he left Daniel Batty with an innovative piece of skill, but his effort from 20 yards was straight at Marshall.
The Tigers went straight up the other end, with a cross into an unmarked Grosicki leaving just Alnwick to beat.
However, the Polish international hit his effort straight at the Wanderers goalkeeper, who grasped it to his chest.
Oztumer came close yet again just after the hour mark, as he won the ball in dangerous territory before unleashing another curling effort on goal which was agonizingly close to the back of the net.
A wonderful flowing move between Williams and Oztumer saw the latter play in Olkowski on the right flank.
The Polish international cut infield, before producing an effort at goal which Marshall saved comfortably.
With five minutes of regular time to go, second half substitute Josh Magennis found room down the left side of the Hull box, before smashing the ball across goal to sting the hands of Hull's David Marshall.
Mark Beevers went close with a header from an Oztumer cross, but his looping effort on goal wasn't enough to test the Tigers defence.
The Whites through everything at Nigel Adkins' side with the clock running down, but Hull stood strong as they played it out until full-time.
Full Time
Wanderers XI: Alnwick (C), Beevers, Vela, Oztumer, Donaldson, Doidge, Hobbs, Olkowski (Magennis 80), Wilson, Williams, Dyer (Buckley 67).
Unused substitutes: Matthews, Little, Taylor, Murphy, Wheater.