From the Bolton Evening News of December 15, 1997

AN incredible feast of pre-Christmas action was served up as Wanderers fought back to draw 3-3 with Derby.

The deadlock was not broken until the 49th minute when man of the match Per Frandsen won a penalty after being felled by Croatian Igor Stimac.

Alan Thompson tucked the spot kick away to put Wanderers ahead, but Stefano Eranio equalised within five minutes when he had been put through by Francesco Baiano.

Roles were reversed in the 65th minute when Baiano put the Rams ahead and he extended the lead just moments later.

Derby pressed forward but were caught at the back with a magnificent header from Nathan Blake.

Jamie Pollock equalised with a driven effort from distance in the 77th minute.

December 21, 1992

WANDERERS prepared perfectly for their FA Cup clash versus Liverpool with a sound 5-0 thrashing of Bradford City.

The visiting Bantams had worked near-miracles to keep a clean sheet in the first half but the most explosive attack in the division - with 23 goals in the last eight games - just would not be denied.

Defender Mark Seagraves had put the Whites ahead 90 seconds after the restart, and from then on it was vintage stuff from the strikers.

McGinlay's first was a header from close range on 65 minutes, and two minutes later Lee embarrassed the Bradford keeper when he squeezed in a shot at the near post.

McGinlay grabbed the fourth after another selfless assist from Walker, who completed the rout in the 88th minute.

December 17, 1977

BOLTON put up a spirited performance against Charlton at The Valley but were ultimately beaten 2-1 by their Division Two rivals.

Wanderers had won a corner in the 29th minute which was swung into the path of in-form striker Neil Whatmore, and he put Bolton ahead from close range.

However, the home side quickly broke to the other end of the pitch and forced an equaliser.

Flanagan won a corner off Allardyce and laid the ball back for skipper Keith Peacock, who found Campbell totally unmarked and the defender slotted home past goalkeeper McDonagh.

Bolton conceded the crucial goal in the 55th minute - another strike caused by a corner.

A floated cross from the right landed on the head of Flanagan who beat McDonagh, although there was a suggestion of offside.