Wolves 1 (Bellegarde 50) Bolton 3 (Ito 28, Dalby 72, Sheehan 82)
Wolves lost at Molineux for the first time this season, on a night when Bolton Wanderers were more clinical than their hosts to take the points.
The Old Gold trailed at the break after Atsuki Ito finished following a Jose Sa fumble, but Jean-Ricner Bellegarde levelled quickly after the break with his first goal of the season.
Wolves had their chances to kick on from there, but instead Sam Dalby restored Bolton’s lead from close range and Josh Sheehan wrapped up the win with a brilliant finish from distance.
Despite having the lion’s share of possession in the first 45, it was a half of frustration for the Old Gold, and in truth Bolton created arguably the better chances, the first of which required a save from Sa, after Samuel Iling-Junior had raced clean through.
Sa was required on 20 minutes too, as he saved one handed from a deflected Josh Sheehan effort, while Wolves could have taken the lead themselves when the returning Ladislav Krejci found Mateus Mane, but he curled wide when well positioned.
The only goal of the first half arrived when Sa came for a cross but fumbled it, having been fouled he believed, and Ito pounced on the rebound to sweep the visitors in front.
The closest Wolves came to being level at the break was when Fer Lopez met Hugo Bueno’s cross with a firm header, but his effort was straight at Gavin Bazunu in the Bolton net.
Half-time | Wolves 0-1 Bolton
Cesar Peixoto’s half-time word clearly had the desired effect, as Wolves were level within five minutes of the restart. Ladislav Krejci’s pass and Bellegarde’s first touch meant the chance was on, and the Haitian international fired beyond Bazunu for 1-1.
Wolved tails were up and Mane curled just over, while Adam Armstrong should have converted a cross from substitute Rafiki Said, but shot at Bazunu with the goal gaping.
Instead, it was the visitors who found a second wind and retook the lead when Caizka Larrazabal stretched his legs down the right and Dalby got in front of Krejci to convert from close range.
On 79 Wolves should have been level again as Kieran Trippier’s cross dropped to Fer Lopez who cleared the crossbar, and just minutes later Bolton made the hosts pay as Sheehan hit a brilliant strike into the top corner to put the game beyond the hosts.
Full-time | Wolves 1-3 Bolton
Wolves | Sa, Trippier, Djiga, Krejci, Bueno (Konan 80), Andre (Neave 85), James (Munetsi 80), Lopez, Bellegarde, Mane (Said 63), Armstrong.
Unused subs | Virginia, Tchatchoua, Toti, Doyle, Chirewa.
Bolton | Bazunu, Larrazabal, Toal, Brunt, Famewo, Erhahon (Simons 78), Sheehan, Gale (Conway 78), Ito (Rodrigues 66), Iling-Junior (Nelson 63), Bair (Dalby 66).
Unused subs | Bonham, Davies, Lott, Hardie.
