The U21s went down 4-1 to Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road in their opening group game of the Premier League Cup, writes Simon Marland.
After a bright start from the Whites – including new signings Charlie Paye and Max Lott in their starting line-up – which saw Harry Leigh and Tom King go close, it was Rangers who went ahead in the 29th minute through Justin Obikwu.
Daeshon Lawrence and King, on his first start since arriving from Cheltenham Town, also went close for Wanderers but it was two goals in as many minutes early in the second half that took the game away from Julian Darby's side.
In the 57th minute Fraser Neill ran the length of the field to shoot inside the post and then a poor clearance resulted in substitute Joshua Wright crashing home.
Former Aston Villa youngster Lott twice struck the bar as Wanderers attempted to get back into it which they did in the 82nd minute.
Substitute Denver Clement capitalised when Rangers ‘Keeper Charlie Warren was caught 40 yards from goal and the substitute steadied himself before shooting into an empty net.
With Bolton looking to reduce the arrears Rangers got a fourth in injury-time from Wright to make a winning start in Group A of the competition, which will also see Wanderers play home and away against Blackburn Rovers and Southampton.
The under 21s visit London again next Tuesday afternoon when they face Charlton at the Valley in their opening Professional Development League game.
Wanderers: Hutchinson, Wilkinson (Kirkpatrick 47), Oliver, Paye, O’Neill, Irwin, Lewis, Leigh, Lawrence, King (Clement 66), Lott. Substitutes: Davidson, Evans, Quirk.
QPR: Warren, Friel, Agbude (Wiles), Akindileni, Street, Neill (Kennedy 75), Scarlett, O'Brien, Obikwu (Wright HT), Sutton, Brunson. Pullela, Taylo.
Referee: Matthew Norton