Bolton Wanderers faced a setback in their Championship campaign on Good Friday, succumbing to a 2-1 defeat against Leeds United, with Nigeria forward Chinedu Obasi conspicuously absent from the squad. Obasi, who recently joined Bolton on a short-term deal until the end of the season, is yet to make his debut for the struggling club. His absence follows his recent appearance for Bolton’s U-23s against Millwall on Monday.
While the absence of Obasi loomed large, Nigerian forward Sammy Ameobi, sibling to Shola Ameobi, a former Super Eagles player at the 2014 World Cup, showcased an impressive performance for Bolton. Despite Ameobi’s liveliness and persistent challenges to the Leeds defense, his efforts fell short, and Bolton could not secure a comeback.
Leeds took an early lead with Caleb Ekuban finding the net in the fourth minute, followed by Pablo Hernandez doubling their advantage on the 50th minute mark. Bolton managed to pull a goal back in the 53rd minute through Adam Le Fondre, but it was not sufficient to alter the course of the match.
This defeat marks Bolton’s second loss in their last five league games, with two draws and one win in the same period. The Trotters currently find themselves in the 19th position on the league table with 39 points, maintaining a six-point buffer above the relegation zone in the fiercely contested 24-team league.
