Football: Blake off but Bolton collect another win

Bolton Wanderers overcame the first-half dismissal of Nathan Blake to move 11 points clear at the top of the Nationwide League First Division with a 2-1 win at sixth-placed Stoke.

Goals from Jamie Pollock and John McGinlay, with his 22nd of the season, did the damage for Wanderers before Mike Macari pulled one back for the hosts. Bolton had already taken a 28th-minute lead through Pollock before Blake was sent off for violent conduct just before half-time.

The result still never looked in doubt, and McGinlay doubled the advantage nine minutes after the interval before Macari, the son of Stoke's manager Lou, gave Stoke some hope six minutes from time.

Elsewhere, Sheffield United moved up one place to second with a 0-0 draw at Maine Road, as Frank Clark oversaw his third successive League draw since taking over the helm at Manchester City.

Wolves stay fourth but closed the gap on the Blades and third-placed Barnsley to one point as Steve Bull's 14th goal of the campaign proved enough to see off Swindon at Molineux.