plans for a behind-closed-doors friendly against Udinese were shelved. Championship The fixtures for the 2014–15 Football League Championship season were released on 18 June 2014. August Bolton began their third consecutive season in the second tier away at Watford on 9 August. Wanderers conceded three goals without reply; Troy Deeney, Matěj Vydra and Fernando Forestieri scoring the goals for the Hornets. Their first league fixture at the newly renamed Macron Stadium was against Nottingham Forest a week later. All four goals of the 2–2 draw came in the first half; Joe Mason first headed in a Jay Spearing free-kick before Britt Assombalonga equalised for Forest. David Wheater put Bolton back in front but captain Jay Spearing brought down Assombalonga in the box, who picked himself up to draw Forest level again. Against Middlesbrough, Craig Davies put Bolton in front with a penalty in the 27th minute after being brought down by Seb Hines. David Wheater was then adjudged to have handled in the box just before half-time – leading to Grant Leadbitter equalising for Boro, again from the spot. Kike scored a late winner to give Middlesbrough their first win away at Bolton since 1987. Away to Brighton and Leeds United, Bolton lost 2–1 and 1–0, respectively, to leave them winless after five games. Bolton took the lead against Brighton, Matt Mills opening the scoring but goals from Craig Mackail-Smith and João Teixeira gave Brighton the points. Former Bolton loanee Stephen Warnock scored the only goal for Leeds, consigning them to defeat once again. Craig Davies was named player of the month for August, scoring two goals from the penalty spot. September Bolton started September against Sheffield Wednesday, the result being a goalless draw. This brought an end to their three match losing streak but meant they still hadn't won a league game this season, extending their winless start to the season to six games. Bolton ended their next game on the right side of a five-goal thriller. Anthony Wordsworth put Rotherham in front in the first half but Joe Mason scored two to bring Bolton ahead with ten minutes remaining on the clock. Two minutes later, Jordan Bowery equalised for the Millers but Mason scored his first career hat-trick and the club's first since Fredi Bobic put in three against Ipswich Town in 2002, to hand Bolton their first win of the new season. They couldn't follow this up