Steven Schumacher relief as Bolton survive late scare to beat Preston

Steven Schumacher celebrated Bolton’s first Championship win for seven years after surviving a late scare against Preston.

Sam Dalby and Thierry Gale put Bolton in command with first half goals but Preston substitute Jusef Erabi ensured a nervy ending by pulling a goal back in the 86th minute.

Liam Lindsay passed up a chance to equalise heading over in added time to leave Schumacher a relieved man.

“That’s what this division is all about,” he said. “From being in control of the game we are happy they missed a sitter at the end not to take away our three points. It’s going to be an exciting ride so strap in.

“This was a big occasion for us. It was our first game back at this level for such a long time. We were playing a local rival and in front of a sell-out crowd. There was so much riding on it.

“We were ready to be positive and in the first half particularly, we were against a well organised and fully established Championship team.

“There were things in the second half, especially in the last 15 minutes, that we can learn from. Overall, I am pleased how the boys handled it. To step upto this level and play as well as we did is a real positive and I think we deserved them (the points).

“We had to make changes towards the end because this league is demanding. Even our goalie had cramp and you don’t see that too often.”

Dalby tucked away a 14th-minute opener after Daniel Iversen weakly turned John McAtee’s shot into the striker’s path. Gale curled in Bolton’s second after 25 minutes following a pass from the impressive McAtee.

Dalby, who had a goal ruled out for a push by McAtee in the build-up, could have put the contest beyond doubt before the break but fired tamely with only Iversen to beat.

Preston improved after a 64th-minute triple substitution but Milutin Osmajic inexplicably passed to Erabi with only Jack Bonham to beat.

Erabi eventually headed in Andrija Vukcevic’s cross and Lindsay should have equalised at the death.

Preston boss Paul Heckingbottom said: “It was frustrating in lots of ways. Frustrated with the nature of the two goals and the people involved in them.

“The goals were shocking and changed the game and changed the atmosphere. It probably gave them even more energy.

“In transition they had a hunger about them. They hunted the ball much better than us.

“We needed to be better in the second half in lots of ways. It left us a mountain to climb but I said to the players I still felt we could win the game.

“We got in behind them down the sides a lot more than they did us. But we weren’t positive or direct enough. We let them off the hook at one end and we gave them the opportunities at the other to get the place rocking.”