Bolton Wanderers 2-1 Preston North End: Match Report, Goals, Stats and Ratings
Championship Matchday 1 · Saturday 15 August 2026 · University of Bolton Stadium, Bolton · referee A. Herczeg · full time
Full time: Bolton Wanderers 2-1 Preston North End
Bolton Wanderers beat Preston North End 2-1 in Championship Matchday 1 on Saturday 15 August 2026 at University of Bolton Stadium. The goals: Sam Dalby 14', Thierry Gale 25', Jusef Erabi 86'.
How Bolton Wanderers won it
Bolton Wanderers struck first through Sam Dalby in the 14th minute. Thierry Gale made it 2-0 to Bolton Wanderers in the 25th minute, set up by John McAtee. Jusef Erabi made it 2-1 to Preston North End in the 86th minute, set up by Andrija Vukcevic.
It was 2-0 at half-time.
The referee, A. Herczeg, showed 5 yellow cards: 2 to Bolton Wanderers and 3 to Preston North End.
Bolton Wanderers: S. Schumacher, 4-2-3-1 · Preston North End: P. Heckingbottom, 4-2-3-1.
Moneyball's prediction against the result
Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.
Why it went this way
On the day the expected goals were 1.10 for Bolton Wanderers and 0.79 for Preston North End.
Bolton Wanderers had 6 shots on target, Preston North End 3.
Bolton Wanderers had 55% of the ball and turned it into the win.
Where the two sides stood before this match
Bolton Wanderers came into it with 12 Championship matches played, scoring 1.3 and conceding 1.9 a match, with 1.37 expected goals for and 2.00 against, and had won 33% of their matches.
Preston North End came into it with 12 Championship matches played, scoring 0.8 and conceding 2.1 a match, with 1.25 expected goals for and 1.63 against, and had won 8% of their matches.
Bolton Wanderers vs Preston North End: the match in numbers
| Bolton Wanderers | Match statistics | Preston North End |
|---|---|---|
| 55% | Ball possession | 45% |
| 1.10 | Expected goals (xG) | 0.79 |
| 15 | Total shots | 10 |
| 6 | Shots on target | 3 |
| 2 | Big chances | 4 |
| 402 | Total passes | 330 |
| 77% | Pass accuracy | 71% |
| 5 | Corners | 2 |
| 12 | Fouls | 11 |
| 3 | Offsides | 7 |
| 14 | Tackles | 16 |
| 2 | Saves | 3 |
| 2 | Yellow cards | 3 |
Team statistics from Sportmonks.
Player ratings and man of the match
Man of the match: Thierry Gale (Bolton Wanderers), rated 8.0 by Sportmonks, with 1 goal.
Bolton Wanderers
- Thierry Gale 8.0 1 goal
- Sam Dalby 7.3 1 goal
- Chris Forino 7.2
- Max Conway 7.2
- Josh Sheehan 7.2
Preston North End
- Jusef Erabi 7.3 1 goal
- Andrija Vukcevic 7.1 1 assist
- Alfie Devine 7.0
- Liam Lindsay 7.0
- Odeluga Offiah 6.8
The lowest-rated starter was Pol Valentín at 5.8. Ratings run from 0 to 10; around 7.0 is a solid match.
What comes next
- Bolton Wanderers: Bolton Wanderers vs Bristol City Saturday 31 October 2026 · Championship
- Preston North End: Stoke City vs Preston North End Saturday 31 October 2026 · Championship
Each preview has Moneyball's estimate for the next match, published before kick-off and marked against the result afterwards, as this one is.
Questions about Bolton Wanderers vs Preston North End
What was the score in Bolton Wanderers vs Preston North End?
Bolton Wanderers 2-1 Preston North End (half-time 2-0), Championship, Saturday 15 August 2026.
Who scored in Bolton Wanderers vs Preston North End?
Sam Dalby 14', Thierry Gale 25', Jusef Erabi 86'.
Did Moneyball predict Bolton Wanderers vs Preston North End correctly?
Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.
Who was man of the match in Bolton Wanderers vs Preston North End?
Thierry Gale, rated 8.0 by Sportmonks.
Who refereed Bolton Wanderers vs Preston North End?
A. Herczeg.
Every match, before and after
Moneyball Odds writes a preview with its estimate before every match of Europe's top five leagues and the European cups, then marks it against the result, hits and misses alike.
Moneyball Odds is a statistical analysis site, not a bookmaker. No model predicts football reliably. For readers aged 18 and over.