Bolton Wanderers had their second taste of Championship opposition in the space of four days when they took on Watford this afternoon.
Ian Evatt took his side to Watford's London Colney training ground this afternoon for their fifth test of pre-season ahead of the League One season starting on July 30. Wanderers had played Wigan Athletic on Saturday before taking on the Hornets, who were relegated from the Premier League last season.
The Whites went ahead thanks to Kieran Lee's early strike, which Dapo Afolayan added to before the break with a sublime finish to double Bolton's advantage. It is Bolton's third victory of pre-season and a very encouraging performance against Championship opposition and a 2-0 victory.
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After an even start, Will Troost-Ekong was fortunate not to be booked early on for a heavy challenge on Wanderers midfielder George Thomason. The Hornets hit the side netting through Vakoun Bayo as they went close to going ahead.
And Lee made the hosts pay for their missed chance moments later when he put visitors in front after 14 minutes when he slotted clinically past Daniel Bachmann after a heavy touch from the stopper. Chances remained few and far between prior to the half haour mark as defences remained on top.
Tom Dele-Bashiru cut inside and got the better of Kieran Sadlier before unleashing an effort over from outside the box. The Hornets had a goal chalked off for offside after Dan Gosling turned home Joao Pedro's pass as the hosts got into their stride more.
Gosling then put an effort over after being fed in by Hassane Kamara. Dion Charles challenged Bachmann as the Watford stopper made another error, but the German eventually recovered to rob the Northern Ireland international.
Wanderers then had a goal of their own chalked off when Bachmann saved Afolayan's effort and Charles tucked home but was flagged offside with fewer than 10 minutes to go before the break. Wanderers doubled their lead two minutes before the break following a lovely ball from MJ Williams to find Afolayan around the corner and Bolton's top scorer from last season tucked home.
Watford hit the bar thanks to Pedro in first hald stoppage time after making contact with Gosling's corner. Wanderers went in two to the good at the break after a great first half from the League One side.
Wanderers remained unchanged at the break. But Hornets man Samir went down after a tangle with Charles and required treatment. When play resumed, Gosling went through on goal on the 50 minute mark and took aim but Dixon had no problem claiming the tame effort.
Dixon made a fantastic 55th minute stop from close range from Ismaila Sarr's header from Pedro's cross as the Hornets went close to halving the deficit. Sarr was denied by Dixon once again three minutes later with a fantastic fingertip stop.
After the hour mark, Sarr's corner was headed wide by Matty Pollock. Substitute Conor Bradley saw a powerful effort blocked on the edge of the box with around 20 minutes to go as Wanderers beat the Hornets 2-0.
Bolton are in action tomorrow evening again when they take on Atherton Collieries. They then travel to Brunton Park to take on Carlisle United this Saturday.
Bolton starting team: Dixon; Aimson (Jones 84), Santos, Johnston; Sadlier (Bradley 66), Williams, Thomason (Morley 74), John (Iredale 84); Lee (Dempsey 74); Afolayan (Bodvarsson 74), Charles (Kachunga 60).
Substitutes: Trafford.
Watford starting team: Bachmann, Bayo, Dele-Bashiru, Gosling, Joao Pedro, Kabasele, Kamara, Kayambe, Ngakia, Samir, Troost-Ekong.
Substitutes: Dahlberg, Okoye, Asprilla, Hungbo, Kalu, McKiernan, Mebude, Morris, Quina, Pollock, Sarr, Sema, Sierralta.
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