Sam Dalby and Thierry Gale on target as Bolton fight back for Exeter victory

Substitutes Sam Dalby and Thierry Gale earned Bolton a narrow 2-1 Sky Bet League One comeback win over Exeter at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.

In doing so, the duo mitigated a 20th-minute blunder by team-mate Teddy Sharman-Lowe which threatened to end Wanderers’ unbeaten home record, now standing at 16 games in all competitions.

The Trotters’ goalkeeper’s attempted headed pass fell only to Jack Aitchison, who fired home from 40 yards into an unguarded net for his fourth goal of the season.

Promotion chasers Wanderers bossed possession but rarely troubled their visitors in the opening half.

Gale replaced Ibrahim Cissoko at the break and Steven Schumacher’s side reigned in a barrage of shots.

Ilmari Niskanen also cleared George Johnston’s header off the line until the Grecians’ resistance was broken after 70 minutes.

Jordi Osei-Tutu – another of Bolton’s replacements – crashed a first effort against a post only for Dalby to tap in the rebound from six yards.

Eight minutes from time Gale curled in his fourth goal of the season for the winner, but only Sharman-Lowe’s stoppage-time save from Reece Cole protected the three points.