Bolton Wanderers vs Lincoln City; Sky Bet Championship
Bolton Wanderers vs Lincoln City. Sky Bet Championship.
Toughsheet Community Stadium.
Bolton 0-1 Lincoln: Ben House scores Imps winner as they claim first win of the season
Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship match between Bolton Wanderers and Lincoln City at the Toughsheet Community Stadium on Saturday; Ben House scores the only goal as Imps claim their first second-tier win in 65 years.
Saturday 29 August 2026 18:27, UK
Lincoln earned their first second-tier win for 65 years as Ben House's 66th-minute goal gave last season's SkyBet League One champions a 1-0 win at previously-unbeaten Bolton.
The Imps had lost their opening two Championship fixtures against Middlesbrough and Portsmouth.
But after Wanderers had failed to unlocked City's defensive door, House stole in to earn the visitors their first three points at this level since April 1961.
Keeper George Wickens was Lincoln's other hero as he repelled a succession of efforts as Bolton looked to build on an opening-day win over Preston and battling draw at QPR.
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Wanderers and their visitors played out two draws last season en route to their respective promotions.
This latest meeting was similarly even in the early exchanges. Bolton dominated possession with the best chances falling to striker Sam Dalby.
He was inches away from connecting with Lewis Brunt's teasing cross from the Lincoln left.
And the former Wrexham man was even closer after 22 minutes, sliding onto full debutant Samuel Iling-Junior's cross and striking the outside of Wickens' upright.
Matchwinner House miskicked when Colin McGrandles and Callum Elder fashioned a decent shooting opportunity and then collected a booking for diving under goalie Jack Bonham's challenge.
Bolton continued to dominate and Wickens denied Brunt his first Trotters' goal with a fingertip save from the defender's header.
John McAtee was also foiled by the Imps' keeper, Dalby headed over and former Lincoln midfielder Ethan Erhahon side footed narrowly wide as Jack Bonham remained untested at the other end.
Elder scuffed a rare effort wide as Lincoln started the second half with greater purpose.
They went even closer after 50 minutes as Ivan Varfolomeev forced Bonham into his opening save as Josh Sheehan was dispossessed and referee Ben Speedie ignored appeals for a foul.
Bolton made a double substitution just after the hour with Iling-Junior and Akin Famewo replaced by Kyliane Dong and Gaizka Larrazabal. Lincoln responded by bringing on Rob Street for Freddie Draper and two minutes later made the breakthrough.
Elder's long throw travelled through to House who stole in to head home from close range.
Dong certainly pepped up Wanderers' attack, forcing Wickens into a save and then seeing another shot blocked. Dalby bundled another effort the wrong side of a post as Lincoln held firm.
Bolton mastered the art of late goals last season and substitute Ryan Hardie almost provided an equaliser. Again though Wickens reacted smartly to a this latest close-range attempt.
And he was still defying Bolton in stoppage time, tipping away Sheehan's 20-yard free kick to secure Lincoln's first ever victory at the Toughsheet Community Stadium and first away win in Bolton in 42 years.
The managers
Bolton's Steven Schumacher:
"It is a tough one to take because I thought we played well.
"We executed our game plan well, created loads of opportunities and got into dangerous areas.
"The only negativity about the first-half performance was we weren't ahead. But we should have been.
"In the second half, apart from a 10-minute spell after half time when couple of refereeing decisions went against us and gave them some momentum, we were the better team.
"So, I am disappointed to come away with no points because there was a lot to like how we played.
"At this level or any level, if you don't take your opportunities when you create them and then switch off in your own box at crucial time this is what happens."
Lincoln's joint manager Chris Cohen:
"It is always mentioned Ben is world class without the ball which I am sure no attacking player wants to be known for.
"But he is magic whatever we ask him to do. He does it with a determination I have not really seen before.
"However, he is a brilliant footballer as well and maybe that's not mentioned enough in terms of how good he is.
"He is technically very good and tactically very astute. He has had a top start to the season and I am delighted for him. But we are not surprised by it.
"It was by no means perfect but it was important we put some points on the board. It was a proper Lincoln City away performance.
"We are a football club built on spirit and the lads showed that in abundance. It is the first win in the second tier for 65 years. It is an amazing achievement for this group of players and staff and me and Tom (Shaw) are lucky to working with them."
