Bolton throw away a lead in a 3–2 home defeat to Bristol City
Sunday 1 November 2026 · By Andy Robson
Bolton lost 3–2 at home to Bristol City on Saturday after leading with six minutes of normal time left, and Steven Schumacher blamed a loss of control in the closing stages.
Josh Sheehan and Sam Dalby put Wanderers 2–1 up after Dom Ballard’s early opener for City. Then substitutes Sam Bell and Scott Twine scored, Bell levelling and Twine winning it three minutes into added time. Lorent Tolaj had twice put the ball in the net for City, only for the offside flag to go up.
“After probably 80, 85 minutes of that game, we were in complete control of it,” Schumacher said. “We should have had a goal to kill it off and didn’t take it. And then it all became a little bit ragged after we had to make the changes in the back line.” He had been forced to take off Ben Davies and Chris Forino with cramp in the last 20 minutes, and said he could not risk any more injuries. He also admitted: “We gave the ball away, I think a 2–2, trying to go for a counter-attack.”
The injury list is long. Schumacher made eight changes from the side beaten 5–1 by Middlesbrough, with Gavin Bazunu and Ethan Erhahon out with thigh injuries and Eoin Toal with an ankle problem. John McAtee, Ryan Hardie and Jayden Nelson are also injured. He praised those who came in, singling out Samuel Iling-Junior and Dalby.
It is three games without a win for Bolton, who are six weeks without a home victory. They have conceded eight goals in their last two league games. They are 19th on 14 points, level with Cardiff, Wrexham and Charlton, and five clear of the bottom three.
They have a quick turnaround, with two away games: Charlton on Tuesday 3 November (kick-off 19:45 GMT) and Derby on Friday 6 November (20:00 GMT).
Colour plan, roughly to pitch scale (110 × 72 yards). Away section highlighted in orange.
Welcome to Horwich. The Toughsheet Community Stadium has been Bolton Wanderers’ home since 1997, when the club left Burnden Park. It is an all-seater bowl of 28,723 with a continuous lower tier and separate upper decks. For visiting supporters it is one of the more straightforward away days in the north: the ground sits beside the M61 and almost on top of a railway station.
The address is Burnden Way, Bolton, BL6 6JW. From the north, leave the M6 for the M61 and come off at junction 6; the stadium is visible as you exit. From the south, stay on the M61 towards Preston and take the same junction — do not peel onto the A666 into town. Away parking is Car Park A, signposted on the approach. Spaces are first come, first served. Expect around £8 for a car, more for minibuses and coaches. The site uses ANPR: pay at the machines or register the plate at parkgood2go.com. Blue Badge bays are in Car Park A; show the badge to a steward. Many fans also use Middlebrook retail park opposite, which is handy but slow to leave.
Horwich Parkway is about 200 metres from the away turnstiles. You can see the roof from the platform. Services run on the Manchester–Preston–Blackpool line, typically every half hour from Piccadilly and Bolton. After evening kick-offs the last trains from Horwich can be thin, so check the return; Bolton station has later connections and is a short taxi. Club matchday buses also run from surrounding towns.
Away fans sit in the two-tier Franking Sense South Stand, behind the goal. A typical allocation is about 3,000 and can rise towards 5,000 when the whole stand is given over to visitors. Views are clean with decent legroom for a 1990s ground. Enter via the south-end turnstiles. Gates often open early. Under-14s must be with an adult. If you leave before full time you will not be readmitted. Flags are usually allowed if the club has approved them and there is space to hang them.
The stadium is cashless: card and contactless only. Nearest cash machines are at Asda on Middlebrook or Tesco opposite. Concourse food is pies, pasties, burgers and hot dogs; beer, cider and wine are sold to over-18s with ID. Do not drink alcohol in view of the pitch. Bags larger than A4 are searched and are best left behind. The ground is open-air, so dress for Greater Manchester weather.
The designated away pub is The Beehive on Chorley New Road (BL6 4BA), about a 15-minute walk. Barnstormers on Lostock Lane is another option. The home Fan Zone by the Nat Lofthouse statue is not for visitors. Inside there are accessible toilets, lifts for pass holders, a Changing Places room in the south-east corner and a quiet room nearby. Wheelchair and carer tickets come through your own club. Commentary headsets for visually impaired supporters must be booked in advance with the club’s disability liaison officer.
Opposite the away end is the Carrs Pasties North Stand (family area). Along the sides sit the Kia West Stand — main stand, dugouts and changing rooms — and the Nat Lofthouse East Stand. A hotel is built into the complex; some rooms look onto the pitch. Club contact: 01204 673 673 or [email protected]. Arrive early, pay for parking, and keep your e-ticket ready at the scanner.