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Feb 14, 2015 at 3pm UK
 
WL

3-4

Clough (37', 85'), le Fondre (41')
FT(HT: 2-1)
Ighalo (25'), Abdi (69'), Ekstrand (74'), Deeney (90')

Live Commentary: Bolton Wanderers 3-4 Watford - as it happened

:Headline: Live Commentary: Bolton Wanderers 3-4 Watford - as it happened: ID:205308: from db_amp
Relive Sports Mole's text coverage one of the games of the season in the Championship as Watford score in the 90th minute to beat Bolton Wanderers 4-3.

Watford travelled to Bolton Wanderers hoping to cement their place in the Championship playoff places.

They were able to do so in remarkable circumstances, coming out on top 4-3 in a see-saw affair at the Macron Stadium to end Neil Lennon's unbeaten home record as Trotters boss.

Read how one of the games of the season, that included a total of 39 shots, unfolded with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates below.

Afternoon folks! There's just eight games in the Championship today as those that have made it through to the fifth round of the FA Cup make for a slightly quieter day of second-tier football.
Our feature 3pm kickoff takes place at the Macron Stadium as improving Bolton Wanderers take on promotion hopefuls Watford. Let's get to the team news...
BOLTON XI: Lonergan, Vela, Dervite, Wheater, Ream, Feeney, Janko, Danns, Bannan, Clough, Le Fondre
Subs: Amos, Moxey, Hall, Gudjohnsen, Twardzik, Slavchev, Eaves
WATFORD XI: Gomes, Ekstrand, Cathcart, Angella, Paredes, Abdi, Layun, Watson, Anya, Vydra, Ighalo
Subs: Bond, Hoban, Pudil, Munari, Tozser, Forestieri, Deeney
Let's start with visitors Watford, who have three changes in their starting lineup from the side that edged out fellow top-six side Brentford 2-1 on Tuesday. In come Joel Ekstrand, Almen Abdi and Matej Vydra for Tommie Hoban, Daniel Tozser and Troy Deeney.
It's surprising to see Tozser and Deeney dropped to the bench as they are two of Watford's standout players. However, Abdi and Vydra are adequate replacements and Watford also have a player who's more in-form than Harry Kane.
STAT! That man is Odion Ighalo, who has scored 10 league goals in 2015 so far; more than any other player in the top four tiers of English football. By jove! Here he is netting the first of his match-winning brace at Brentford on Tuesday.

Moving onto Bolton, Neil Lennon has made just one change to the side that saw off Bolton Wanderers in midweek. Eidur Gudjohnsen gets a rest and drops to the bench, with youngster Zach Clough making his third start for the club.
Clough has broken into Lennon's plans in the last month or so, netting a double in the 2-2 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers at the end of January.

So, there's just 16 games of the season left as all 24 teams have played 30 already. Watford go into this game 16 points better off than Bolton, but just eight places above them. The top eight have pulled away from the rest and the best Bolton can really hope for is a top-half finish. Considering where they were when Lennon took over, you have to say he's done a great job.
Click here to see the table ahead of this afternoon's eight games. As mentioned above, Bolton are hoping to move into the top half, while Watford can put the pressure on two of the sides above them, Middlesbrough and Derby County, who don't play until midweek as they're in FA Cup action this weekend.
The other two sides above Watford, Bournemouth and Ipswich Town, are in action this afternoon. The former host Huddersfield Town, while Ipswich are away at Bolton. I'll keep you up to date with any goals from those two games. If Ipswich fail to win at Craven Cottage, then three points for Watford will see them move up to fourth.
H2H: Bolton have a strong recent record against Watford at home, winning four in a row when the Hornets visit and eight of the last nine. However, Watford did cruise to a 3-0 win in the reverse fixture earlier this season.
PREDICTION TIME: Just five minutes until kickoff at the Macron Stadium, so it's time for my pre-game thoughts. It's a really tough game to call, but I'm expecting goals so let's say a 2-2 draw.
As for you guys, 48.6% picked a Bolton win in our readers' poll on the match preview. The draw has been backed by 22.9% and a Watford win gets 28.6% of the vote.
The teams are out of the tunnel, with kickoff just moments away. Both teams in their traditional colours, with Bolton in white and black and Watford in yellow and red.
LOOK OUT FOR: Saidy Janko. The Manchester United loanee scored the below stunner on his debut in a man-of-the-match performance on Tuesday night. He has so much energy down the right.

KICKOFF! We're underway at the Macron Stadium.
CHANCE! First real opening falls Bolton's way as Le Fondre appears to be through on goal and is about to shoot when Cathcart makes a fine challenge to clear it for a corner.
SHOT! Great start this from Bolton. It's Le Fondre again who threatens as he collects Clough's cutback and gets off a quick snapshot that whizzes over the bar. He'll be disappointed with that from a good position.
Up the other end, Ighalo's low shot is easily saved by Lonergan. It wouldn't have counted anyway as the Nigerian was offside.
STAT: No goal for Ighalo there, but here's a great stat on the firing striker. He has scored 11 goals in his last seven league appearances for Watford; Bolton Wanderers have scored 12 overall in their last seven league games.
Better from Watford as Anya gets into the box but can't find a teammate with his cutback. Vydra wins the ball back but then produces a mishit cross that goes harmlessly out of play.
UPDATE: Watford's hopes of moving into the top four don't look good at the moment as Ipswich take an early lead at Fulham through the league's top scorer Daryl Murphy. He's the first Championship player to reach 20 goals in 2014-15.
Since that strong Bolton start, there's not been too much goalmouth action. Watford have come into the game more, but neither keeper has been tested yet.
Crystal Palace loanee Bannan with a deep cross from the Bolton left. Trotters skipper Wheater is at the back post, but mistimes his jump and can only loop a harmless header over the top.
UPDATE: More bad news for Watford as Bournemouth go in front against Huddersfield. As things stand, Watford will be seven points off the top.
Good goalkeeping from Gomes as he rushes out quickly to beat Janko to the ball after a neat through-ball by Clough. The latter has been very bright on just his third league start for Bolton.
CHANCES! Watford will feel that they should be in front! First, Anya's low cross went all the way across the face of goal before, moments after, the Scottish winger again burst down the left. This time he found Abdi, but he made a mess of his low shot after turning smartly in the box. Lonergan was only able to half clear Abdi's scuffed effort before Vydra's low effort was held by the Bolton keeper. They're the first two shots on target.
CLOSE! It's end-to-end stuff at the Macron Stadium as Bolton go close. Feeney swings over a corner and Wheater's flicked effort goes just wide.
CHANCE! Another chance for the home side as Le Fondre, who looked offside, receives the ball and feeds it into the path of Janko. He scored a cracker on Tuesday, but this effort is a wild one that flies high and wide.
GOAL! BOLTON 0-1 WATFORD (IGHALO)
Bolton were looking bright, but they fall behind and it's that man Ighalo again! Make it 12 league goals in eight games for the striker as he charges forward before cleverly cutting inside and finishing low into the corner. Brilliant stuff from the Championship's hottest player.
Break in play as Cathcart has to receive treatment for a bloody nose. That's come at quite a good time for Watford as it just stops any chance Bolton had of putting them under pressure following the opener.
UPDATE: That goal could be massive for Watford as Norwich City have just taken the lead against Wolves. The Canaries are the side closest to breaking up the top six.
And Brentford have also fallen behind at Charlton Athletic, so Norwich are up into the playoffs as things stand.
OFF THE LINE! Bolton so close to an equaliser as Feeney's corner isn't cleared by Watford and Le Fondre's low drive is brilliantly cleared off the line by Watson. Fantastic defending.
BOOKING! Bannan becomes the first Bolton player to be cautioned for bringing down Abdi.
SHOT! Bannan doesn't let the booking get to him as he goes close to a leveller with a dipping drive from 25 yards that has Gomes really worried. The Brazilian keeper has to tip it over the bar for another corner.
The corner comes to nothing, but Bolton are looking dangerous from set pieces. They have a lot of big players who always pose a threat.
GOAL! BOLTON 1-1 WATFORD (CLOUGH)
Watford are furious with the officials here. They feel that the goal should not have stood because the linesman's flag went up for offside. However, Le Fondre left the ball for Feeney and his cross was coolly turned home by Clough for his third goal for the club.
You can see where Watford are coming from, but it's the right decision for me. Le Fondre clearly put his hands up to say that he was leaving the ball and Watford's players should have played to the whistle.
GOAL! BOLTON 2-1 WATFORD (LE FONDRE)
Bolton complete a quick turnaround and they probably deserve to be in front. Moments after Ream hit the side-netting, Le Fondre puts the ball the right side of the post with a stabbed finish from Feeney's cross. The latter has been excellent down the wing.
Watford are no doubt still fuming about the first goal, but they can't let that affect them in the rest of the game. They're still just a goal behind and there's a long way to go.
Three minutes of added time signalled by the fourth official. Looking at the stats, you have to say Bolton deserve to be in front as they have had 11 shots to Watford's four.
HALF-TIME: BOLTON 2-1 WATFORD
No more action in the closing moments of the first half, so it's Bolton who lead 2-1 at the break then after two goals in four minutes.
In-form Ighalo put Watford in front with a cool finish, but Bolton are in front thanks to goals from Clough and Le Fondre.
Feeney set up both of Bolton's goals and it's the first one that Watford boss Slavisa Jokanovic will no doubt be complaining about after the game if Watford go on to drop points. The linesman raised his flag too quickly as Le Fondre just left the ball and some of the Watford players thought the attack was over, but Feeney ran onto the ball and crossed for the impressive Clough to stroke home.
HALF-TIME SCORES: Blackpool 1-0 Forest, Bournemouth 1-0 Huddersfield, Charlton 1-0 Brentford, Fulham 0-2 Ipswich, Leeds 1-0 Millwall, Norwich 1-0 Wolves, Sheff Weds 0-0 Brighton
Watford are still in fifth place in the latest table, but just one point separates them from seventh-placed Brentford, who are losing at Charlton. Norwich are only two goals behind Watford in the goal difference column as well.
As for Bolton, they will climb up to 12th as things stand and be within 13 points of the playoffs. More importantly, 10 points currently separate them and the bottom three.
STATS! Bolton have had 11 shots (four on target) to Watford's four (three). The Hornets have had more of the ball, though, with 58% possession.
The two sides are back out for the second half. No changes from either manager, but I doubt it'll be long before we see Deeney if Watford don't score soon.
KICKOFF! Hosts Bolton get us back underway at the Macron Stadium.
Watford are the first to threaten in the second 45 as Vydra looks to get on the end of a long ball, but Lonergan is alert and out to claim the ball.
Janko with about four quick step-overs before hooking over a really dangerous low cross that is dealt with well at the near post by Ekstrand.
Watford have a free kick in a great position right on the edge of the box after Vela bundled over Vydra...
SAVE! Abdi decides not to go over the wall, instead curling a powerful effort towards the far corner. Lonergan is wise to it and springs to his left to push it away. Great stop.
SAVE! It's all Watford at the moment as Anya waits and waits before shifting the ball onto his left foot and drilling an effort towards the near-post that Lonergan beat away.
Brilliant from Bannan as he tracks Layun's run to the edge of the area before making a slide tackle that blocked the Mexican's shot. Remember, he's on a booking so that was a risky challenge to make.
This afternoon's attendance at the Macron Stadium is 14,230.
WATFORD SUB: First change of the game sees a centre-back come off for a striker. Angella off, Deeney in. That will see Watford change their 3-5-2 formation to a 4-3-3 I think.
UPDATE: Watford might be losing here, but there is good news from South London where Charlton are beating Watford's fellow playoff hopefuls 2-0.
SAVE! Just before the hour mark, Watford gift Bolton a chance to go two clear. Watson's heavy touch in midfield allows the nippy Clough to steal the ball and he sends Le Fondre through on goal. He just has Gomes to beat, but the Brazilian makes a solid stop.
CHANCE! Again it's Clough who feeds Le Fondre and this time he misses the target with a dinked effort. He got the ball over the advancing Gomes, but got his angles all wrong. Bolton might live to regret all these missed chances.
Again Watson is dispossessed and Janko feeds the ball into Clough, who is turning into Bolton's go-to creator. He looks for Le Fondre again, but this time his pass is read and cut out by the Watford backline.
WATFORD SUBS: All three changes made by Jokanovic as Forestieri takes Vydra's place and Tozser replaces Watson.
Lonergan with two more great stops to keep out Watford. The second didn't really matter as Ighalo was offside when he pounced on the loose ball. So much goalmouth action in this game.
GOAL! BOLTON 2-2 WATFORD (ABDI)
This will probably be goal of the weekend as Abdi receives the ball 25 yards out, turns and then curls a beauty into the far corner. Absolutely nothing Lonergan could do about that.
CHANCES! How are Bolton not back in front! Somehow Gomes keeps both Le Fondre and Clough out from close range. The two Bolton strikers have been such handfuls for the Watford defence today.
Clough shoots over from 20 yards after a fantastic burst forward. He had options both right and left, but for the first time today didn't make the right decision.
GOAL! BOLTON 2-3 WATFORD (EKSTRAND)
What a game this is! Watford go in front as Ekstrand, who had stayed up from a corner, stoops low to head Abdi's inswinging cross past Lonergan.
Total shots: 34 (Bolton 18, Watford 16).
Gudjohnsen will be on shortly as Lonergan safely deals with a dipping Abdi drive from 30 yards.
UPDATE: Watford are just three points off the top as it stands with Bournemouth being held by Huddersfield. Norwich lead Wolves 2-0, while at Fulham it's now just 2-1 to Ipswich.
BOLTON SUB: Lennon makes his first change as we enter the final 10 minutes. Gudjohnsen on for Janko, who couldn't emulate his impressive display on Tuesday.
After that crazy spell of chances a few minutes ago, it's been a little quieter in the last five. Watford are doing a good job of seeing this out at the moment.
GOAL! BOLTON 3-3 WATFORD (CLOUGH)
Bonkers! We're all square again as Clough produces another fine finish with a right-footed first-time effort that's so well directed that the long arms of Gomes can't quite reach it. Feeney with his third assist of the day with a cross from the right.
For someone so young, Clough really has showed incredible composure with his finishes today. He's also created plenty for his teammates. Feeney becomes the first player in the Championship this season with three assists in a game.
Abdi fires over at one end before Gomes has a go at Le Fondre for his tackle when he thought the ball was there to be won. Unbelievably, this isn't the only 3-3 draw in the Championship today as Blackpool and Forest have also shared six goals.
GOAL! BOLTON 3-4 WATFORD (DEENEY)
Has Deeney won it for Watford? They don't really deserve it, but you have to say that their finishing today has been excellent. Deeney collects Ighalo's cutback before drilling low into the far corner.
BOLTON SUB: Bannan off, Eaves on. Four minutes of added time for Bolton to score an eighth goal.
Gomes makes a decent save, but the offside flag was up. Bolton pushing here, but time is running out.
FULL-TIME: BOLTON 3-4 WATFORD
A crazy, crazy game comes to an end and it's three massive points for Watford as they move within three points of the top of the Championship.
That was by far the most action-packed game I've seen this season in the Championship. It was so, so open and Bolton will really wonder how on earth they've not won.
Watford stay fifth in the table, but they're now just three points behind top-of-the-table Bournemouth. Bolton remain 15th, seven above the bottom three. Click here to see the latest table.
It's been an incredible day of football and you can catch up on it all via this page.
Time for us to say goodbye, thanks for joining SM for what was an incredible game of footy. Stick around for reaction from the Macron and elsewhere in the Championship on site this evening. Bonsoir!
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