HARVEY Knibbs scored from the spot to hand Steven Schumacher a defeat in his first game in charge of Wanderers.
The Reading man netted his 11th goal of the season after a handball from Bolton debutant Kion Etete in the 89th minute – dashing the Whites’ chances of climbing into the top six for the first time since October.
Aaron Collins missed a gilt-edged chance to open the scoring and Josh Sheehan also hit the bar with a free kick – but George Thomason also hooked an effort off the line in an action-packed second half where neither side ever settled into a rhythm.
Wanderers made four changes to the side that had beaten Northampton Town, bringing the fit-again Eoin Toal back for his first start in eight games and handing a full debut to Newcastle United loanee Alex Murphy on the left.
Joel Randall returned in midfield and Josh Dacres-Cogley started on the right. Giving way were Gethin Jones, Jordi Osei-Tutu, Aaron Morley and Szabi Schon, and new signing Kion Etete was named on the bench following his loan move from Cardiff City.
The first half was a largely forgettable affair, neither side really able to muster any quality on what was a poor playing surface.
Wanderers arguably had the better chances, the best coming when Randall’s pass across the 18-yard line bounced off Harlee Dean and into the path of Aaron Collins, but Joel Pereira was equal to his shot.
The energy levels from both sides were high and Bolton did have to work hard to keep the Royals a safe distance from goal. Former Reading man Luke Southwood’s only save of the first half was a shot on the turn from Chem Campbell but there was ample pressure to keep Schumacher’s side busy, particularly down their left side where Michael Craig, Campbell and Harvey Knibbs were particularly busy.
Bolton did gradually assume control towards the interval, urged on by an away following who refused to stop singing throughout. Collins had a couple of sighters, nudging a cross from Toal wide at the near post and sending another effort flying past the post after some good work from Vic Adeboyejo.
Things perked up after half time, although Wanderers nearly gifted the home side an opening goal when Luke Southwood played a short pass looking for Toal on the edge of the box and Knibbs nipped in, forcing George Thomason into a fine goal-line clearance.
The Whites reacted and after Randall had a shot beaten away by keeper Pereira, Josh Sheehan bounced a free kick off the crossbar.
Schumacher brought on Etete for his debut for 24 minutes left and the new arrival earned himself a serenade with an early flash of skill. Unfortunately, there was little else to judge.
Wanderers had to absorb another wave of Reading pressure – Charlie Savage sending a bobbling shot wide after a poor punch from Southwood and Will Forrester forced into an emergency clearance to stop Jayden Wareham getting a tap in.
Collins then had the chance of the game to open the scoring, fed by Dacres-Cogley he pushed his shot past the onrushing keeper but the wrong side of the post.
And Reading made them pay dear. Awarded their first penalty in more than a year for what looked like a handball against Etete, Knibbs did the rest from the spot.
Wareham nearly made it two just before the end, his close-range effort deflecting just past the post.
And though Bolton’s fans stayed to cheer his name to the end, Schumacher cut a disappointed figure as he walked back to the fans in the corner after the final whistle.
