WANDERERS: 4-4-2

ANDY LONERGAN 8

Commanded his area well and bowled out a brilliant throw to set Craig Davies on his way for the third goal. Adds such an air of calm to the back four.

KEVIN MCNAUGHTON 7

Up against a tricky customer in Jota but stayed solid in the first hour before the pressure really got cranked up later on in the game.

MATT MILLS 8

Came up with some really important blocks in the penalty area and used the ball sensibly from the back – centre half is improving all the time.

DORIAN DERVITE 8

Like Mills, the Frenchman looks comfortable and while the movement of Gray caused a few nervous moments, he was very impressive again.

TIM REAM 7

Back in the unfamiliar saddle but added that little bit of composure that has been lacking of late. Deserves to be starting games again.

NEIL DANNS 7

Got caught up in the furore in the first half but then settled down to be a key player after the break, providing a fantastic left-footed opener.

JAY SPEARING 8

Drove the team on again in his 100th appearance for the club. Seems to be revelling in the new freedom but should have cleared in build up to Brentford’s goal.

CHUNG-YONG LEE 9

Oozed class on the ball and seemed to crop up in all four corners of the Macron Stadium. Not worried to put his foot in and make a tackle either.

DARREN PRATLEY 6

The fact he was stationed on the left made him predictable at times for the visitors but you never, ever get anything but 100 per cent from him.

JOE MASON 6

Struggled a little against a physical back line and by making similar runs to strike partner Beckford. Glimpses of promise and plenty of graft.

JERMAINE BECKFORD 6

Looks short of confidence in front of goal but Beckford mucked in at the back and kept on going until the end. Must be hoping his luck turns soon.

Subs:

M Davies 73 (for Pratley) – Scored a simply superb strike 7

C Davies 87 (for Mason) – Deserved a goal for his effort this term 7

Vela 90 (for Beckford) – Great to see him back 6

Not used: Kenny, Moxey, Hall, Clayton.

STAR MAN – Chung-Yong Lee Looking like the player who once graced the Premier League as one of the hottest new talents on the block. Gliding over the turf, linking up play, and getting his knees dirty. The Seoul star is very much back in town.

BRENTFORD: 4-3-3

DAVID BUTTON 6

ALAN MCCORMACK 6

TONY CRAIG 7

HARLEE DEAN 7

JAKE BIDWELL 6

ALEX PRITCHARD 8

ALAN JUDGE 6

JONATHAN DOUGLAS 5

JOTA 5

MOSES ODUBAJO 7

ANDRE GRAY 6

Subs: Diagouraga 6, 63 (for Jota), Smith 5, 69 (for McCormack), Toral 81 (for Pritchard) Not used: Bonham, Tarkowski, Yennaris, Proschwitz.

MATCH STATS POSSESSION Wanderers – 48 Brentford - 52

SHOTS ON TARGET Wanderers – 8 Brentford - 6

SHOTS OFF TARGET Wanderers – 13 Brentford - 9

CORNERS Wanderers – 6 Brentford - 11

FOULS AGAINST Wanderers – 18 Brentford - 8

OFFSIDES Wanderers – 4 Brentford - 3

CARDS: Booked: Wanderers – Dervite 45 (foul on Gray), Danns 48 (foul on Craig), Chung-Yong 63 (foul on McCormack), C Davies 90 (removing shirt), Spearing 90 (foul on Smith), Beckford 90 (foul on Toral) Sent off: None.

Attendance: 14,811

Referee: Mark Heywood 7 Kept mainly in the background despite the grief he got at half time.

Goals: Wanderers – Danns 61, M Davies 76, C Davies 90 Brentford – Toral 81

Entertainment – 9/10 This was an occasion to put the buzz back into Bolton Wanderers. Essential Saturday viewing – forget Match of the Day or the X Factor. El Clasico may have had the superstars but this was heart-on-sleeve football at its finest.

Atmosphere – 9/10 From the packed out FanZone to the many supporters who stayed behind after the final whistle to clap off the last Wanderers player, the newly-christened Macron Stadium has simply never sounded so happy. Hopefully the darkest days are now behind us.

Match point – Keeper Andy Lonergan made some subtle but crucial saves at 0-0 that made sure Wanderers were always in with a shout against Brentford. From there it was simply a case of getting that first goal – supplied with aplomb by Neil Danns.

Magic moment – Fresh from the bench, Mark Davies takes down the high ball on the edge of the penalty area, shimmies round a challenge and then strokes the ball into the net past the Brentford keeper – a goal I could watch all day long. Absolute class.