Lyndon Dykes opened his account for a battered Millwall side by netting a brace as the Lions bounced back into winning form in the Sky Bet Championship, dispatching Bolton 4-0 at The Den. Despite being hampered by a spate of injuries that left eleven first‑team regulars unavailable and coming off two consecutive heavy defeats, Millwall showed a completely different attitude, handing the Trotters their third straight loss. The match turned into a showcase of Millwall’s attacking firepower, especially during a blistering nine‑minute spell late in the game that produced three goals and cemented the emphatic final scoreline. Both clubs finished the encounter with ten men after midfield enforcer Jenson Metcalfe and Bolton captain Josh Sheehan were each shown red cards for violent conduct.
Bolton’s early promise was evident when Sam Dalby combined neatly with Sheehan in a quick one‑two, only for Dalby to mis‑hit his follow‑up from inside the box, sending the ball wide of the target. The visitors grew in confidence as Sheehan, after gaining control, unleashed a shot that Millwall keeper Max Crocombe managed to parry.
However, it was the home side that broke the deadlock just before the interval. In the 38th minute, Metcalfe delivered a corner that found the back post, where Caleb Taylor rose above the crowd to head the ball into the net, giving Millwall a much‑needed lead. The second half began with Dykes threatening to double the advantage.
He attempted a daring lob from roughly 40 yards, but Bolton’s goalkeeper Jack Bonham was relieved when the effort sailed over the crossbar. The Trotters responded aggressively, coming close to an equaliser twice within a minute. First, Crocombe had to produce a fine save to deny a half‑time substitute, Ruben Rodrigues, whose strike was blocked.
The subsequent corner was cleared only for Xavier Simons to unleash a powerful first‑time shot from just outside the area, which struck the bar. Millwall continued to press, and debutant Yanis Issoufou created a golden opportunity by back‑heeling the ball to Jordi Osei‑Tutu, who found himself one‑on‑one with Bonham. The goalkeeper made a crucial stop, keeping the score at 1‑0.
Later, Taylor missed a chance to double his tally when a free‑kick from Metcalfe rolled to him, but he failed to convert. Bolton’s Gale then struck a shot that required Crocombe to tip the ball behind the goal for a safe finish.
The decisive moment arrived in the 83rd minute. A long ball from Camiel Neghli was flicked on by Dykes, who nudged it past Bonham’s outstretched toe and into the net, extending Millwall’s lead to 2‑0.
Just three minutes later, a heated confrontation between Metcalfe and Sheehan erupted, resulting in both players receiving straight red cards and leaving each side with ten men. Dykes completed his brace in the 88th minute, out‑muscling Bonham at the near post after a well‑timed run by Zak Sturge, who had slipped past the Bolton defence.
The goal made it 3‑0 and seemed to put the game beyond doubt. Yet, in stoppage time, Millwall added a fourth when Issoufou threaded a precise pass to Neghli, who calmly slotted the ball home, sealing a comprehensive victory. After the match, Millwall manager Alex Neil reflected on the drama: "From my perspective, the kid dragged his boot over Jenson’s head.
Jenson might think it was a deliberate kick, but only Sheehan can answer that. It turned into a bit of a kerfuffle with everyone getting involved.
A week is a long time in football – we had just come off games against Bristol City and Norwich, feeling optimistic. Then we lost a couple of matches, sold Femi Azeez to Brighton, and saw 10‑12 players go down with injuries. It’s been a testing period, and we’ve been frustrated not being able to field our best side.
Today’s reaction was crucial for us." Bolton’s boss Steven Schumacher was less satisfied with the officiating, especially regarding the red card given to his captain: "I think it was an unnecessary dismissal. When Josh fell on top of Metcalfe, there was no deliberate leg movement towards the head – it was just a natural fall. The referee seemed to over‑react because of the ensuing melee.
If they review the footage, they’ll see it was a mistake and hopefully it will be rescinded. We also lost a player to injury after using all our substitutes, which gave Millwall a numerical edge when we were pushing for a comeback.
Up until the 83rd minute, when Lewis Brunt went off injured, we were matching Millwall well." Overall, the game highlighted Millwall’s resilience in the face of adversity and their ability to capitalize on set‑pieces and quick transitions. The double from Dykes will boost his confidence and provide a much‑needed lift for a side battling injuries and a run of poor results. Bolton, meanwhile, will need to regroup, address disciplinary issues, and find a way to bounce back after a disappointing defeat that saw them concede four goals without reply.
The match also featured a reminder for fans to stay engaged with the Championship: "Got Sky? Watch EFL games on your phone.
Watch FREE Championship highlights." Additionally, there was a promotional note about a Super 6 competition offering a chance to win £250,000, encouraging supporters to enter for free.