Bolton 2-3 Leeds Five Things: thrilling opener

Phillips celebrates – bbc.co.uk

Leeds’ 3-2 win at Bolton was a thrilling game, the stark contrast in styles providing the perfect reminder of why we love the Championship. Here’s what we learnt.

Leeds’ bright start

Bolton played two up front, but they often had five or six men in the defensive third and Leeds benefited hugely from the space in the middle third. After some good play from Pablo Hernandez down the right flank won a seventh minute corner, the Spaniard delivered for Kalvin Phillips, who fired the ball into the left-hand corner. Chris Wood quickly regained his predatory instincts of last season on 30 minutes, heading in off the bar after Ezgjan Aliosky flicked Kemar Roofe’s right-wing cross back across goal. At their best, Christensen’s men were a vibrant, entertaining outfit.

Madine’s threat

Sandwiched between Phillips’ and Wood’s goals was a period of pressure from Bolton. Gary Madine, by far the home side’s best player, used his power and industry to force Matthew Pennington and Liam Cooper deep. That allowed the Trotters to gain a grip on the midfield, win set pieces and get crosses into the box. They threatened from set pieces, so it did not surprise that that was the method through which they pulled a goal back on 39 minutes, Madine home heading Josh Vela’s corner.

Defensive mishaps

Three minutes after Bolton reduced the deficit, they effectively returned Leeds their two-goal cushion. Wood teed up Phillips for a tap-in, but largely due to Mark Howard’s poor positioning and David Wheater’s prolonged offside appeals. Wheater and co. were outstanding in League One, but much of the back-line was found wanting when last tried in the Championship and this performance perhaps calls into question their credentials at this level.

Bolton’s improved second half

The hosts did at least look stronger at the back after Wheaters was replaced by Reece Burke, who impressed under Parkinson at Bradford. Fellow substitute Will Buckley also made a difference with his sharp movement and three minutes after he came on, Adam Le Fondre dispatched a 67th minute penalty. Le Fondre himself pressed better after the break as Josh Cullen grew in influence, firing just over on 77 minutes after namesake Vela’s free-kick.

In summary

This was an enthralling game that saw positives and negatives for both teams. Bolton showed spirit but need to cut out the errors and find a little more variation in the final third to reduce their reliance on Madine. Leeds could perhaps show more aggression in their own box but were, in patches, a joy to watch.