Bolton Wanderers 0 Brighton & Hove Albion 2
The Albion secured a vital victory in their quest for a play-off place with a 2-0 win over mid-table Bolton at the Reebok Stadium this afternoon (Saturday 15 March).
Will Buckley, the club’s first ever seven-figure signing, scored both goals.
Albion were without the previously ever-present Matt Upson who was sidelined with illness.
Gordon Greer returning from suspension and partnered Brighton-born Lewis Dunk in central defence.
Albion took the lead on 13 minutes, with Buckley getting two bites at the cherry.
Bolton keeper Adam Bogdan parried his first close-range effort but Buckley steered home the rebound.
Minutes earlier Bogdan was almost caught out by a Leo Ulloa effort which almost crept in the top corner.
Chung-Yong Lee forced Tomasz Kuszczak into an acrobatic save as Wanderers pressed Albion.
Then Dunk made a superb block to deny Lukas Jutkiewicz. It was backs to the wall time for Albion and just before half-time Medo Kamara hit the crossbar with a free-kick.
The second half began in much the same vein. Bolton full-back David Wheater was beginning to get forward for the home side. Lee fired a shot which ricocheted around the Albion box and fell to Joe Mason, who deflected the ball home.
Much to Albion’s relief it was disallowed as the assistant referee had flagged for offside.
Soon after, Buckley found himself clear and one on one with Bogdan and the Seagulls man calmly stroked the ball into the bottom corner to double the Albion’s advantage.
Bolton had a few half chances after this but nothing that really worried Kuszczak.
The Seagulls stay in 8th place in the Championship, level on points with Reading in 7th and just one behind Nottingham Forest in 6th.
Ipswich visit the Amex for another huge game next Saturday (22 March).
