EFL roundup: Bolton beat Preston on Championship return, Luton edge thriller

The Guardian Sport Saturday 15 August 2026, 14:44 UTC By PA Media 1 min read

Key Points

Dalby and Gale fire promoted Bolton to 2-1 win Kodua pounces at death as Luton beat Reading 4-3Sam Dalby and Thierry Gale scored first-half goals as Bolton beat Preston 2-1 to record their first Championship win since March 2019.Last season’s League One playoff final winners have been predicted to struggle on their return to the second tier after seven years away. But in front of a sellout 26,262 crowd at the Toughsheet Community Stadium, Steven Schumacher’s side dominated the longstanding...

Dalby and Gale fire promoted Bolton to 2-1 win
Kodua pounces at death as Luton beat Reading 4-3

Sam Dalby and Thierry Gale scored first-half goals as Bolton beat Preston 2-1 to record their first Championship win since March 2019.

Last season’s League One playoff final winners have been predicted to struggle on their return to the second tier after seven years away. But in front of a sellout 26,262 crowd at the Toughsheet Community Stadium, Steven Schumacher’s side dominated the longstanding members of this division.

This story will be updated

Bolton (PERSON) Preston (PERSON) Luton edge (ORG) Dalby (PERSON) Gale (ORG) Kodua (ORG) Luton (PERSON) Thierry Gale (PERSON) Preston 2-1 (PERSON) League One (ORG) the Toughsheet Community Stadium (LOCATION) Steven Schumacher (PERSON)

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EFL roundup: Bolton beat Preston on Championship return, Luton edge thriller

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