It has been an unbeaten pre-season for Bolton Wanderers

Bolton Wanderers 2 - 0 Preston North End

Wanderers completed their public preparations for the new campaign with a confidence-boosting win over Championship opposition to complete an unbeaten pre-season.

Author | Jamie P

Stadium |  Toughsheet Community Stadium

Preston North End’s first visit since 2019 ended in defeat with two quick-fire goals inside the last 20 minutes from Amario Cozier-Duberry and Joel Randall. 

This made it five wins in a row (with another clean sheet) this summer as Wanderers gave the home fans something to look forward to before their return in a fortnight’s time. Can they challenge for promotion to the Championship again?

Steven Schumacher appeared to not show too much of his hand ahead of next Sunday’s League One opener at Stockport County as he evened up the game time across most of his fit and available players.

They didn’t include recent arrival Ethan Erhahon, with the midfielder in need of more training time with his new team-mates to get him fully up to speed.

A closer look at what happened

Amario Cozier-Duberry maintained his bright start to pre-season by opening the scoring on his debut at the Toughsheet Community Stadium. His low strike from outside the area took a deflection off Preston’s Andrew Hughes, leaving the goalkeeper with little chance and adding to his winner at Hibernian a week earlier.

With 15 minutes remaining, the hosts doubled their lead. Substitute Thierry Gale made an instant impact, delivering a low cross from the left that fellow replacement Joel Randall calmly tucked away for his first of the summer.

READ MORE | The latest pre season match reports from Greater Manchester's sides

It was a fair reward for a second half largely dictated by Ian Evatt’s side, who coped well with the physical edge introduced by Preston. Daniel Jebbison sent one effort over the bar and Milutin Osmajić saw a close-range attempt smartly saved by Teddy Sharman-Lowe, who had earlier denied new signing Michael Smith.

Despite Preston’s early threat, Wanderers carved out chances of their own. Cozier-Duberry forced an early save from Daniel Iversen, while Josh Dacres-Cogley, enjoying another lively outing, nodded just over from a Josh Sheehan free-kick.

Still in the market for a striker, Bolton nevertheless showed growing cohesion and intent. With pre-season now behind them, they head into the new campaign with momentum and renewed belief.