Pre-season Friendly: Bolton Wanderers 0 - 0 Everton [L]

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Everton continue their pre-season runouts with a short trip into the heart of Lancashire and the home of Bolton Wanderers.

David Moyes continues to be hampered by circumstances and squad limitations while his recruitment team have come up with very little so far to boost his numbers.

Jarrad Branthwaite (wearing Number 4) makes a massive return to fitness and is named in the starting lineup, but solitary new signing Hayden Hackney is still not involved. Also missing is Tyler Dibling, with a minor knock. Both young players are expected to feature against Stoke City on Tuesday.

James Garner has had surgery on his groin problem and is now in recovery, but Mykolenko rejoins the squad after taking off last week for the birth of his second child.

First Half

The home side kicked off and most of the play was in Everton's half until O'Brien sent a ball forward from Barry to chase. The Bolton keeper came out and mis-headed it, colliding with Barry, who was deemed to have committed the foul.

Everton should have had a corner with Merlin Rohl overlapping but the linesman missed the Bolton player's last touch. Bolton resumed control of the game in Everton's half and Rodriguez tried to beat Travers from the corner of the penalty area.

Everton came forward and Aznou played a lovely ball to Barry's feet but he completely failed to shoot first time and the defender was in quickly.

Barry's cross was headed behind for an Everton corner, taken short, the cross earning another corner but Everton's feeble efforts were easily repelled.

Iroegbunam was doing a good job as stopper, while the homer referee was happy to ignore Bolton fouls. A Bolton header fell just wide with Travers tracking it.

McNeil took a great pass from Tarkowski and delivered a perfect cross for Barry who headed inches wide of the far post. A brilliant first-time low cross from Merlin Rohl was finished perfectly by Barry close in but he was flagged for a marginal offside.

Bolton got in behind Aznou and he recovered well to put the striker off his shot. At the other end, Aznou and Barry worked an opening but could not deliver a decent cross.

Barry played a nice ball forward to Armstrong who then set him up for a strike on goal but the big man failed to put his laces through it and could only pass the ball weakly back to the keeper.

Not really a very impressive display but Everton started playing forward a bit more before the break. But the lack of incisive goalscoring skills either up front or in midfield is glaringly obvious.

Everton: Travers, Aznou, Branthwaite, Tarkowski, O’Brien, Röhl, Armstrong, Iroegbunam, Alcaraz, McNeil, Barry.

Michael Kenrick 2 Posted 25/07/2026 at 14:01:30

The absence of Tyler Dibling is a massive blow.

Not training hard enough for Moyes? Not tracking back to defend? Not doing enough work off the ball? Not arranging the cones properly?

Mike Powell 4 Posted 25/07/2026 at 14:04:01

Or maybe just not good enough...

What ever the reason, it doesn't look good for the lad.

Luke Welch 5 Posted 25/07/2026 at 14:16:44

I know there's a month left, but the fact Jake O'Brien is still playing right-back is making me think the owners are only going to do enough to keep us in the Premier League.

However, seeing all the events lined up at the new ground suggests that's where money is. Let's see... but, at this rate, I wouldn't be surprised if they sold the stadium and we rent it.

Jay Harris 6 Posted 25/07/2026 at 14:20:43

Or a back 3 with Rohl and Aznou as wing backs?

Kevin Naylor 7 Posted 25/07/2026 at 14:43:17

11/4 Bolton on their own ground looks pretty fair.

Ian Bennett 8 Posted 25/07/2026 at 14:43:20

Garner has had surgery, and wont be fit till the start of the season.

Big blow.

Jack Convery 9 Posted 25/07/2026 at 14:48:08

Luke my thoughts exactly. It seems to me, TFG are not interested in the team, just stability. The fact Gana Gueye was not picked during the run-in to last season speaks volumes.

Qualifying for Europe would have meant real investment. Something they apparently did not want to do.

As for Tyler Dibling, unless he is injured, the writing is on the wall. A loan to a progressive European club may be in order. PSV did Branthwaite a heap of good, something similar may aid Dibling.

Mike Hayes 10 Posted 25/07/2026 at 14:57:24

If Dibling isn’t injured could be going out on loan or sold 🤷💙

Luke Welch 11 Posted 25/07/2026 at 15:03:08

When they said it was a 2 window transfer plan, I though ok! At least they have a plan! Well, at least targets in mind that they would keep tabs on until this window, and be ready to pounce, its just not looking like that's the case.

Also, Moyes on his last year, means player don't really know what their signing up for. All seems, half arsed.

Eric Myles 12 Posted 25/07/2026 at 15:08:41

You been smoking that wacky baccy again Jay #6?

Sean O\\\'Hanlon 13 Posted 25/07/2026 at 15:13:44

Fairly comfortable for Bolton so far. They have Everton penned into their own half. No shots from the Blues

Tom Bowers 14 Posted 25/07/2026 at 15:14:10

So far with only Barry up front we don't look like scoring.

Tom Bowers 15 Posted 25/07/2026 at 15:15:07

Great save by Travers.

Pavel Ivanov 16 Posted 25/07/2026 at 15:15:41

https://livetv.sx/webplayer.php?t=ifr&c=3041307&lang=bg&eid=393039954&lid=3041307&ci=5&si=1

Working nicely. No commentary.

Tom Bowers 17 Posted 25/07/2026 at 15:16:52

Barry goes down lack a sack of spuds.No pen.

Sean O\\\'Hanlon 18 Posted 25/07/2026 at 15:18:41

It was indeed a great save Tom! #15

Tom Bowers 19 Posted 25/07/2026 at 15:19:17

Anyone else remember the old Bolton ground and the FA Cup semi-final of 1966?

Tom Bowers 20 Posted 25/07/2026 at 15:20:37

Barry ball control 100 percent rubbish

Peter Thistle 21 Posted 25/07/2026 at 15:21:19

https://ntvs.cx/watch/kobra/bolton-wanderers-vs-everton-2502567

David Hallwood 22 Posted 25/07/2026 at 15:23:21

Is TFG not willing to spend money, or are they unhappy that they spent £40M last season onone lad and he wasn't used???

Tom Bowers 23 Posted 25/07/2026 at 15:26:02

Rohl showing a lot of zest.

Tom Bowers 24 Posted 25/07/2026 at 15:27:15

Good to see Jarrad Branthwaite back.

Frank Worrall 25 Posted 25/07/2026 at 15:28:50

At least Aznou is proving Moyes wrong! Maybe it has dawned on the boss that Aznou wouldn't be a Morocco international player if he didn't have something about him?

Tom Bowers 26 Posted 25/07/2026 at 15:31:01

Nice work by Barry. So close.

Tom Bowers 27 Posted 25/07/2026 at 15:32:23

That was a good goal by Barry but offside??

Sean O\\\'Hanlon 28 Posted 25/07/2026 at 15:34:04

Good headed goal from Barry, but offside. Very dubious.

Great move and cross from McNeil.

Tom Bowers 29 Posted 25/07/2026 at 15:34:19

Tim a little over zealous as usual.

Tom Bowers 30 Posted 25/07/2026 at 15:40:11

Great work by Aznou.

Tom Bowers 31 Posted 25/07/2026 at 15:41:29