Cardiff City were defeated on the road on Saturday afternoon.
Brian Barry-Murphy named an unchanged starting XI at the Toughsheet Community Stadium, following Tuesday night’s draw against Stoke City at home.
Following a back-and-forth start to proceedings, City created the first big chance of the afternoon five minutes in. Jack Moylan’s low cross cut towards Yousef Salech, whose shot with his first touch was well held.
Two minutes later, Moylan was involved again as he looked to create a striking opportunity for Chris Willock. Feeding the ball wide for the winger to cut into the area, his effort was deflected and eventually held.
The City pressure continued with Salech again forcing a save from Gavin Bazunu. Willock’s cross found Ollie Tanner at the far post, who in turn headed the ball towards City’s number 9. Bazunu, reacting quickly, tipped the headed effort onto and over his own crossbar, with the Bluebirds threatening from the corner-kick thereafter.
When Bolton managed to push up the field on the counter as the half progressed, City dealt with the hosts’ attempts well. Gabriel Osho was heavily involved in snuffing out chances, clearing and tackling well under pressure.
Nathan Trott was tested for the first time near the half-hour mark, on hand between the sticks to deny both Rúben Rodrigues and Samuel Iling-Junior when they had attempts on goal from outside the area.
Wanderers squandered their best chance of the half when Kyliane Dong was played through on goal. With Trott committing to the challenge in a one-on-one, Dong dived in an effort to win a penalty-kick and was subsequently booked for simulation.
The second half opened as the first had closed, with both sides vying for chances. Again City held a majority of possession as they looked to impose their style of play on the match, with the Wanderers in turn fashioning half-chances on the counterattack.
City increased their aerial threat as the half continued, with Willock and Tanner consistently looking to rain crosses into the box. Just past the hour mark came a huge opportunity for City as Salech got down low to head at point blank range, but Bazunu somehow got a glove to it, keeping the Bluebirds out once again.
With changes made for the final fifteen minutes, Cian Ashford and Callum Robinson combined well off the bench as the search for an opener continued. Robinson found Cian quickly, before the forward unleashed a shot on goal that forced Bazunu into a diving saved, pushing the ball wide and out for another corner-kick.
In the final minute of the 90, the hosts took the lead, as Thierry Gale headed in at the far post. The final whistle blew minutes later, without City able to find a responding goal despite last-ditch efforts from the visitors.
Cardiff City: Trott, Bagan (Scanlon 90+1’), Osho, Bielik, Moylan, Salech (Robinson 74’), Tanner, Willock (Ashford 74’), Robertson (Kpakio 90+1’), J. Colwill (Turnbull 59’), Ng. Substitutes: Tyrer, Tankiewicz, Turner, Moreno.