Striker Victor Adeboyejo’s eighth goal of the season earned promotion-chasing Bolton a hard-fought 1-0 League One victory over Cheltenham.
But Wanderers’ return to winning ways following last Saturday’s defeat at Leyton Orient was not without controversy.
George Lloyd believed he had cancelled out Adeboyejo’s 24th-minute opener nine minutes into the second half after his first effort was saved by Nathan Baxter.
However, referee Ben Speedie signalled offside before assistant referee Joe Simpson eventually raised his flag in confirmation. The two consulted before the initial decision was upheld.
Cheltenham boss Darrell Clarke was later booked after another decision went against his team.
Adeboyejo had not previously scored in 2024 until punishing Tom Bradbury’s defensive slip and coolly finishing from 18 yards.
But relegation-threatened Cheltenham proved tricky opponents in a fixture replayed from January 13 after the collapse and subsequent death of Bolton fan Iain Purslow.
Baxter saved from Rob Street while Tom Pett fired wide before the home side went in front. Curtis Davies lashed a second-half effort into the side-netting while Bolton survived a triple stoppage-time shot barrage.
Match report supplied by PA Media.
Line-ups
Bolton
Formation 3-1-4-2
- 1Baxter
- 18Toal
- 5Almeida Santos
- 3Iredale
- 8Sheehan
- 12Dacres-Cogley
- 4ThomasonBooked at 90mins
- 19MaghomaSubstituted forDempseyat 75′minutes
- 27WilliamsSubstituted forAshworthat 88′minutes
- 10CharlesSubstituted forBödvarssonat 75′minutes
- 14AdeboyejoSubstituted forJeromeat 80′minutes
Substitutes
- 9Bödvarsson
- 13Coleman
- 16Morley
- 22Dempsey
- 26Ashworth
- 35Jerome
- 41Matheson
Cheltenham
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 1Southwood
- 33Davies
- 4BradburyBooked at 44minsSubstituted forButler-Oyedejiat 68′minutes
- 6Freestone
- 2Long
- 34Pett
- 23Bonds
- 15Ferry
- 8SercombeSubstituted forHarropat 77′minutesBooked at 87mins
- 11StreetSubstituted forKeenaat 68′minutes
- 19Lloyd
Substitutes
- 3Williams
- 10Keena
- 14Thompson
- 21Pardington
- 22Smith
- 25Harrop
- 38Butler-Oyedeji
- Referee:
- Ben Speedie
- Attendance:
- 19,309
Live Text
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Match ends, Bolton Wanderers 1, Cheltenham Town 0.
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Second Half ends, Bolton Wanderers 1, Cheltenham Town 0.
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George Thomason (Bolton Wanderers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Attempt blocked. Nathan Butler-Oyedeji (Cheltenham Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
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Attempt blocked. Josh Harrop (Cheltenham Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Aidan Keena.
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Substitution, Bolton Wanderers. Zachary Ashworth replaces Randell Williams.
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Corner, Bolton Wanderers. Conceded by Curtis Davies.
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Josh Harrop (Cheltenham Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Randell Williams (Bolton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Josh Harrop (Cheltenham Town).
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Attempt saved. Aidan Keena (Cheltenham Town) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Josh Harrop.
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Corner, Bolton Wanderers. Conceded by Elliott Bonds.
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Corner, Cheltenham Town. Conceded by Ricardo Santos.
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Foul by Jack Iredale (Bolton Wanderers).
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Aidan Keena (Cheltenham Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Substitution, Bolton Wanderers. Cameron Jerome replaces Victor Adeboyejo.
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Attempt blocked. George Lloyd (Cheltenham Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Curtis Davies.
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Corner, Cheltenham Town. Conceded by Eoin Toal.
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Attempt saved. Aidan Keena (Cheltenham Town) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Sean Long.
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Substitution, Cheltenham Town. Josh Harrop replaces Liam Sercombe.