Bolton Wanderers vs Brentford: Danns raises a smile as Bees land Dean Smith
Bolton Wanderers 1 Brentford 1
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Neil Danns lifted some of the gloom surrounding Bolton Wanderers on Monday night with a second-half equaliser against Brentford, who earlier named Dean Smith as their new manager.
With Smith watching in the stands after deciding to leave League One Walsall, the visitors took an early lead through John Swift, the on-loan midfielder from Chelsea, who fired home a superb, curling shot from 20 yards after good link-up play with Alan Judge.
However, the Bees could not turn their superiority into a two-goal lead and when a poor defensive header fell to Danns on the edge of the penalty area in the 65th minute his bouncing shot crept in at the far corner of David Button’s goal.
On the day it was revealed the Bolton players were not paid last month owing to the club’s financial problems, Neil Lennon’s side might have snatched only their second Championship win of the season but could not take several good chances.
Smith, who spent five years with Walsall, guiding them to Wembley for the first time in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy and leaving them fourth in League One, takes over from interim coach Lee Carsley. A poor start to the season had led to the departure of Marinus Dijkhuizen in September after just three months in charge.
Brentford’s co-director of football, Rasmus Ankersen, said: “We believe Dean is exactly the authentic and strong leader we need to take Brentford forward and ultimately into the Premier League. We have been hugely impressed by Dean’s work at Walsall and especially how he has managed to turn a club with such a low budget into one pushing for promotion.”
Bolton remain bottom of the table and up for sale, with chairman Phil Gartside seriously ill. The club is £172.9m in debt and a statement said the inability to pay the wages was due to a “short-term funding issue” and “the ongoing situation surrounding the club’s ownership off the field”.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments