Bolton Wanderers 1-0 Huddersfield Town: Back in the mix

After losing two consecutive games, Bolton Wanderers desperately needed a win in order to keep pace in the race for promotion. Bolton have not done well on the road this season but returns to the Reebok Stadium have been welcomed. The Trotters' home ground has become somewhat of a fortress again as the Whites have now picked up 41 points from 20 games, losing only three times.

The first half was very much back-and-forth as both sides struggled to grab a foothold on the match. Bolton's best chance of the first half would come on the 29 minute mark with Chris Eagles doing well to get to the byline. David Ngog was in space and with Eagles cutting the ball back into him, he somehow managed to fire over the bar from all of six yards out.

Huddersfield Town would get their chances as the half drew to a close, mostly thanks to some Bolton Wanderers mistakes. The first came after a short backpass from Danny Butterfield on 24 minutes that put James Vaughan in but an alert Andy Lonergan did well to get off his line to clear. With five minutes left in the half, Vaughan would get two more chances but a poor first touch on both occasions ruined any potential goals. Zat Knight nearly caused an own goal in first half stoppage time after the ball deflected off of him but Lonergan, wide awake, smuggled clear. Finally, Huddersfield would smack the crossbar from the resulting corner before the referee mercifully blew the halftime whistle.

The Trotters would start the second half brightly and would ultimately make Huddersfield Town pay. On the 59 minute mark, it was Marvin Sordell who made the goal happen for the men in white. He tussled with defender Tom Clarke before muscling him off the ball. Sordell then cut it back for Chris Eagles who settled the ball in the back of the net from just eight yards out for his team-leading ninth goal of the season.

Huddersfield Town would respond well as they earned themselves a myriad of corners. Former Bolton Wanderers man Danny Ward would put in a number of very dangerous whipped crosses but Bolton would do well enough to scramble them all away. With ten minutes to go, it seemed that Dougie Freedman was content with a 1-0 scoreline and looked to shut up shop, sending Medo Kamara on for Marvin Sordell.

The Trotters would keep Huddersfield Town quiet, largely stopping the Terriers' chances at goal. Huddersfield Town would come close in stoppage time, as it was Danny Ward who would send another dangerous ball into the area. Jermaine Beckford managed to get a head on it but sent it just wide.

The win means that Bolton Wanderers sit on 57 points, level on games with everyone in their immediate area, and four points behind sixth-place Brighton & Hove Albion. Bolton will welcome an in-form Wolverhampton Wanderers side to the Reebok this weekend.