Birmingham City 0-1 Bolton Wanderers

Matt Mills' header gave Neil Lennon a winning start as Bolton manager

Neil Lennon enjoyed a winning start as Bolton Wanderers manager but was sent off for leaving his technical area as they beat 10-man Birmingham.

He was ordered to the stands when Craig Davies missed a late penalty for Bolton after being fouled by keeper Darren Randolph, who was shown the red card.

Earlier defender Matt Mills scored the only goal of the game as he powered in a header from Jay Spearing's corner.

Birmingham's best chance saw Demarai Gray's curling strike hit the crossbar.

Media playback is not supported on this device

Neil Lennon on Bolton's win at Birmingham

There was confusion at first as to why former Celtic manager Lennon had been dismissed by referee Mark Haywood, but it was later confirmed it was for leaving his technical area too many times during the course of the match.

However, the incident failed to take the gloss off a much-needed win for Bolton, which ended a run of four successive Championship defeats.

Bolton's poor start to the season
Before the win, Bolton had only picked up five points from their opening 11 games under former boss Dougie Freedman

The Trotters took the lead against the run of play when Mills nodded in, prompting Lennon to sprint down the touchline in celebration.

Media playback is not supported on this device

Post match: Clark on Birmingham v Bolton

Birmingham created a number of half-chances as they pushed for an equaliser, with Gray denied by a good save from Andy Lonergan just before the break and Koby Arthur firing a couple of shots wide.

After Lonergan tipped another Gray effort onto the bar, Bolton were given the chance to wrap up all three points as Blues right-back Paul Caddis played Randolph into trouble with a backpass under pressure from Davies and the Irishman felled the forward, leaving referee Haywood with the formality of sending him off.

With all three substitutes already used, striker Lee Novak took the gloves, but was not called upon as Davies blazed the penalty over the bar.

The miss prompted Lennon to leave his technical area once again and he was told to take a seat upstairs by the official

Birmingham had a late penalty shout for handball turned down, as Bolton managed to hold on for just their second league win of the season.

Birmingham manager Lee Clark: "I thought we were worth something today. We gave a really poor goal away from a set play, when so many games at every level are decided by set-pieces. I'm frustrated."

New Bolton boss Neil Lennon: "I'll appeal [being sent to the stands]. I've got to. I hope my reputation from my time in Scotland hasn't preceded me. I haven't been sent off for two years.

"My only misdemeanour today was leaving the technical area, showing enthusiasm. Officials need to cut people a bit of slack."

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Birmingham

• 1RandolphBooked at 82mins
• 31Caddis
• 6Edgar
• 4RobinsonBooked at 24mins
• 3Grounds
• 26DavisSubstituted forReillyat 29'minutes
• 8GleesonSubstituted forThomasat 66'minutes
• 24Arthur
• 33Gray
• 11CotterillSubstituted forNovakat 58'minutes
• 9Donaldson

Substitutes

• 2Eardley
• 10Thomas
• 12Novak
• 15Hall
• 16Johnstone
• 17Reilly
• 21Doyle

Bolton

• 24Lonergan
• 2McNaughton
• 4MillsBooked at 14mins
• 14Dervite
• 3MoxeySubstituted forReamat 79'minutes
• 7Feeney
• 6Spearing
• 18Danns
• 21PratleySubstituted forDaviesat 79'minutes
• 27Lee
• 10Beckford

Substitutes

• 5Ream
• 9Mason
• 11Hall
• 12Clayton
• 13Kenny
• 25Vela
• 28Davies

Referee:

Mark Haywood

Attendance:

15,149

Match Stats

Home TeamBirminghamAway TeamBolton

Possession

Home44%

Away56%

Shots

Home15

Away11

Shots on Target

Home5

Away3

Corners

Home7

Away5

Fouls

Home12

Away16

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Birmingham City 0, Bolton Wanderers 1.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+7'

Second Half ends, Birmingham City 0, Bolton Wanderers 1.

Posted at 90'+6'

Foul by Jermaine Beckford (Bolton Wanderers).

Posted at 90'+6'

Paul Caddis (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 90'+5'

Corner, Bolton Wanderers. Conceded by David Edgar.

Posted at 90'+4'

Foul by Liam Feeney (Bolton Wanderers).

Posted at 90'+4'

Jonathan Grounds (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 90'+3'

Attempt blocked. Wes Thomas (Birmingham City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by David Edgar.

Posted at 90'+2'

Foul by Lee Chung-Yong (Bolton Wanderers).

Posted at 90'+2'

Koby Arthur (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 89'

Attempt saved. Demarai Gray (Birmingham City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Koby Arthur.

Posted at 88'

Attempt saved. Jay Spearing (Bolton Wanderers) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

Posted at 86'

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Posted at 85'

Delay in match Kevin McNaughton (Bolton Wanderers) because of an injury.

Posted at 84'

Penalty missed! Bad penalty by Craig Davies (Bolton Wanderers) right footed shot is too high. Craig Davies should be disappointed.

Dismissal

Posted at 82'

Darren Randolph (Birmingham City) is shown the red card.

Posted at 82'

Penalty Bolton Wanderers. Craig Davies draws a foul in the penalty area.

Posted at 82'

Penalty conceded by Darren Randolph (Birmingham City) after a foul in the penalty area.

Posted at 81'

Offside, Bolton Wanderers. Jermaine Beckford tries a through ball, but Craig Davies is caught offside.

Substitution

Posted at 79'

Substitution, Bolton Wanderers. Tim Ream replaces Dean Moxey.

Substitution

Posted at 79'

Substitution, Bolton Wanderers. Craig Davies replaces Darren Pratley.

Posted at 78'

Corner, Birmingham City. Conceded by Andy Lonergan.

Posted at 78'

Attempt saved. Demarai Gray (Birmingham City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Clayton Donaldson.

Posted at 78'

Attempt missed. Darren Pratley (Bolton Wanderers) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.

Posted at 77'

Attempt missed. Lee Novak (Birmingham City) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Koby Arthur.

Posted at 75'

Attempt saved. Demarai Gray (Birmingham City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Lee Novak.

Posted at 73'

Foul by Neil Danns (Bolton Wanderers).

Posted at 73'

Callum Reilly (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 72'

Andy Lonergan (Bolton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 72'

Foul by Wes Thomas (Birmingham City).

Posted at 70'

Attempt missed. Koby Arthur (Birmingham City) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is too high. Assisted by Clayton Donaldson with a headed pass.

Posted at 69'

Attempt saved. Demarai Gray (Birmingham City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Clayton Donaldson.

Posted at 67'

Lee Chung-Yong (Bolton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 67'

Foul by David Edgar (Birmingham City).

Posted at 67'

Foul by Jermaine Beckford (Bolton Wanderers).

Posted at 67'

Paul Caddis (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Substitution

Posted at 66'

Substitution, Birmingham City. Wes Thomas replaces Stephen Gleeson.

Posted at 64'

Attempt missed. Neil Danns (Bolton Wanderers) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.

Posted at 63'

Matt Mills (Bolton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 63'

Foul by Clayton Donaldson (Birmingham City).

Show more updates