Bolton Wanderers 0-3 Nottingham Forest: Forest win at Bolton for first time since 1991
- Published
Joe Lolley's fifth goal in all competitions this season put Forest 1-0 up at Bolton
A Joe Lolley goal and a Lewis Grabban double secured Nottingham Forest a first win at Bolton in any competition since October 1991.
Lolley's crisp finish into the roof of the net put Aitor Karanka's side ahead early in the first half and the winger was denied a second before the break by Ben Alnwick's smart block.
Forest had the chance to extend their lead early in the second half when Grabban was fouled by Mark Little, but the striker had his spot-kick saved by Alnwick to his left.
He made amends though eight minutes later when he coolly slotted the ball in from Joao Carvalho's through ball to double the lead.
Alnwick then tripped the Forest striker inside his own six-yard box to concede a second penalty, which Grabban made no mistake with for Forest's third goal in the closing stages.
Forest move up to seventh with their second successive away win and are unbeaten in their past four Championship away matches.
Victory against the Trotters ended a run of 10 matches at Bolton without a win and an almost 40-year wait for an away league win against Wanderers.
On both occasions in November 1978 in the old First Division and in October 1991 in the League Cup second round, Brian Clough was the Forest manager.
Bolton are without a win in their past four league games and remain 18th.
Bolton Wanderers boss Phil Parkinson told BBC Radio Manchester:
"At time we were naive in some of the things we did, bit other times they have immense quality, they spent £30m and you could see the class they had.
"You can't say we played great, we've come up against a team right on top of their game.
"At the start we were nervous, edgy, gave it away too cheaply. But we've got to pick ourselves up.
"Saturday's game, two home games in a week, we've got to find a way of playing that gives us a better chance of winning than it did tonight."
Nottingham Forest manager Aitor Karanka told BBC Radio Nottingham:
"The second part of the first half, we didn't play well and we allowed them to have the ball.
"When the other team plays that way we aren't confident, but the second half was much better.
"We got the second and the third goal today and that is very important.
"I have thought about changing the penalty taker, but I am continuing to trust him (Lewis Grabban). He is confident and he is scoring goals. He is happy."
