What happened at Bolton Wanderers on this day in history?

LIVERPOOL were on the march to the league title and undefeated in the league – but Wanderers had other plans.

David Jack opened the scoring and Joe Smith doubled the lead from the penalty spot at Anfield to give Bolton a shock lead.

Indeed, the game go so heated at one stage that the referee had to call both teams into the centre circle to give them a talk about their manners.

Wanderers finished sixth that season in the top-flight, the Reds getting their own back at Burnden Park the following weekend with a 3-1 win.

ON THIS DAY – March 18, 1950

JEKYLL and Hyde Wanderers continued to impress at Burnden Park but fail away from home.

Goals from Willie Moir, Don Howe and Bobby Langton put Charlton to the sword in front of 24,895 on home soil – but the momentum was lost a week later with a 3-1 defeat at Newcastle.

That proved the tale of the first-ever season that Bolton failed to win an away game – a feat matched in 1979/80 and then again in 2015/16.

Pictured above - Bolton Wanderers' (back row l-r) John Aspinall, Stan Hanson and Malcolm Barrass. (front row l-r) Willie Moir, Don Howe and Harry McShane.

ON THIS DAY – March 18, 1972

ROGER Hunt scored twice for Wanderers as they gained some ground in the promotion race on Bournemouth.

Jimmy Armfield’s side had started slowly after relegation from Division Two but were starting to find some traction, winning three of their previous four games.

John Bond’s Bournemouth would just miss out on promotion behind Aston Villa and Brighton that year and would be in the mix again the following season when Armfield’s side – now settled and frighteningly consistent – went up as champions.

FROM THE BOLTON NEWS – March 18, 1999

KEITH Branagan continued his comeback from injury for the reserves as they went down to a late goal against Tranmere at the Reebok.

The winning goal came from substitute Alex Hay 10 minutes from time and the winning margin could have been greater but for a number of good saves from Branagan who completed another step on his way back to full fitness.

The Irish international was called on to tip over a spectacular 25-yard strike from full back Paul Sheppard in the 18th minute. This was the only attempt that troubled either keeper during the first half.

In the space of seven minutes, midway through the second half, Branagan produced four quality saves. The best came with a point-blank stop from full back Ian Joy. A long range shot from Carl O'Malley tested Tranmere keeper Joe Murphy and the Wanderers had a good chance to break the deadlock in the 62nd minute.

Hasney Aljofree's long ball from the left found Olaf Snorrason free at the back but the youngster's angled shot flew across the face of the goal.

What turned out to be Rovers' winner came from a right wing corner and Hay forced the ball home from close range in a goalmouth scramble.

Bolton's best chance came in the 85th minute. Peter Morrison played Costas Xiourouppa in behind the Rovers defence but he dwelled too long on the ball the the opportunity disappeared.

Wanderers: Branagan, Tait, Aljofree, O'Malley, Holden, Strong, (Pryers), Corrigan, (Morrison), Doherty, Xiourouppa, Snorrason, (Trueman), Staton.

FROM THE BOLTON NEWS – March 18, 2004

WANDERERS released former Manchester City star Georgi Kinkladze after an extended trial.

The Georgian impressed in a number of outings for the Reserves in recent weeks, but Sam Allardyce announced he would not be signing him.

He said: "Georgi can do a good job for somebody but he is too similar to Jay-Jay Okocha and I could not play both of them in the same team."