Bolton vs Everton LIVE - goals, score, commentary stream

There was a blow before the match when it was confirmed that midfielder James Garner has undergone surgery on a groin injury and faces a race to be fit for the start of the Premier League season.

But the stalemate at the Toughsheet Community Stadium did mark the return of Jarrad Branthwaite, who produced a typically polished performance in his 45 minutes on the field.

Thierno Barry came closest to winning it for Everton, seeing an effort ruled out for offside and two more go just past the post and brilliantly saved.

New UpdatesKey EventsFull-time: Bolton Wanderers 0 Everton 0View PostHT: Bolton 0-0 EvertonView PostJames Garner has undergone surgeryView PostTeam news: Jarrad Branthwaite is backView PostWelcome to the ToughsheetView Post25th Jul16:51 BSTFull-time: Bolton Wanderers 0 Everton 0All over at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.

The positives? Jarrad Branthwaite being back and looking assured as ever. Thierno Barry, while he should have scored, was lively in the first half. And it was good to see some of the Academy players getting a chance later in the second half. Merlin Rohl, meanwhile, showed some promise as a right wingback.

But, all in all, standard pre-season fare.

CommentsPaul Wheelock25th Jul16:48 BSTNearly doneWe're into the 90th minute.

CommentsPaul Wheelock25th Jul16:45 BSTSome startSoon after coming on, Malik Olayiwola forces a good save from decent. The youngster hit it well.

CommentsPaul Wheelock25th Jul16:40 BSTChance for KeaneTyrique George's free-kick is headed back across goal by James Tarkwoski, but his centre-back partner Michael Keane gets his connection all wrong and his header flies wide.

Moments later, George Finney comes on for Jake O'Brien while Eli Campbell replaces James Tarkowski and Malik Olayiwola takes the place on Dwight McNeil.

CommentsPaul Wheelock25th Jul16:39 BSTNice touchesHarvey Foster is tidy on the ball. He links up with Tyrique George to instigate an Everton break, which ends with slow play from Beto.

CommentsPaul Wheelock25th Jul16:36 BSTGraham hustlingAn important, sliding intervention from Mykolenko now as McAtee almost gets behind the defence. Dewsbury-Hall carries the ball forward and Graham does really well to win a free kick on the left in a good crossing position. The free kick drops to Tarkowski, whose shot is charged down. The attack ends with an overhit cross from Dewsbury-Hall.

CommentsJoe Thomas25th Jul16:32 BSTFoster and Graham onHarvey Foster and Braiden Graham are on for Iroegbunam and Rohl. McNeil now in the middle, Graham the left and George on the right.

CommentsJoe Thomas25th Jul16:29 BSTKing being kept busy in goalKing rises well to claim a deep free-kick and Everton come forward down the right until McNeil appears to be taken out on the touchline. No foul given. Bolton come forward and Daulby's cross is just about dealt with by O'Brien and Tarkowski.

Everton respond and Beto appears to be through, though some way out, after a nice ball from Mykolenko finds him. He struggles to control, meaning he is caught by defenders, and his shot is high and wide.

Now King, being kept busy, pushes a deflected shot around the post.

Bolton are pushing and now Keane has to block a cross out for a corner. John McAtee’s header is easy for King to deal with.

Braiden Graham and Harvey Foster are getting ready to come on.

CommentsJoe Thomas25th Jul16:16 BSTBonham pushes wideRohl breaks into the box to force Bonham into a good save as he shoots across the keeper. Was a nice move that saw Rohl slipped in by McNeil after the ball went through KDH and Beto.

CommentsJoe Thomas25th Jul16:13 BSTForward intent from MykolenkoGeorge gets help from Mykolenko as the left back produces an overlapping run. George finds him and Mykolenko's cross earns a corner. Another short one ends with a tame effort from George that is straight at the keeper.

Beto is on for Barry

CommentsJoe Thomas25th Jul16:09 BSTKeane interceptsEverton's right hand side just isn't working right now and that is a very useful interception from Keane on the edge of the area after Bolton exploit the lack of understanding between McNeil and O'Brien.

CommentsJoe Thomas25th Jul16:07 BSTEverton pushed backA good save from Tom King now as he pushes over when Sam Dalby peels off Keane and heads goalwards.

Keane does well to win the header against Simons when another good ball comes in from the Everton right.

CommentsJoe Thomas25th Jul16:05 BSTBarry fluffs his linesA nice move ends terribly as Barry is played in down the left, holds up the ball then passes for an overlapping run that wasn't being made.

CommentsJoe Thomas25th Jul16:04 BSTChanges at the breakKing, Keane, Mykolenko, Dewsbury-Hall, George off for Travers, Branthwaite, Aznou, Armstrong and Alcaraz.

4-5-1 with O'Brien on the right, Mykolenko the left and Rohl joining Iroegbunam in the middle.

CommentsJoe Thomas25th Jul15:48 BSTHT: Bolton 0-0 EvertonThat was the last passage of play of the first half. Goalless but some nice pieces of play towards the end. Barry had an excellent half - just couldn't quite get the goal.

CommentsJoe Thomas25th Jul15:47 BSTLovely play between Barry and ArmstrongThat should be the opening goal. Barry plays a lovely through ball to Armstrong, who is wide of the goal but deep behind the last man. He waits for Barry's run and finds him. Barry smashes it goalwards but too close to Jack Bonham.

He should have done better but another good piece of play from both players.

CommentsJoe Thomas25th Jul15:45 BSTBarry and Aznou linking up wellAt the other end, Stephenson does well to crunch into Aznou to stop him from crossing and then win a free kick after a right-footed - yes, right-footed - cross from McNeil evades Barry.

Everton come again and Barry again feeds Aznou down the left as the two link up well - the only problem being no-one is in the middle to finish a nice cross from Aznou.

CommentsJoe Thomas25th Jul15:42 BSTA good chance for BoltonAfter all that, a good chance for Bolton as they exploit the space between Branthwaite and Aznou to findLuca Stephenson idown the right. He carries the ball into the box but fires into the side netting after Aznou recovered just about well enough to put him under pressure. It was a good opportunity.

CommentsJoe Thomas25th Jul15:38 BSTEverton have grown into thisEverton have improved and are now enjoying most of the possession, and enjoying it in Bolton's half. That does leave them exposed to the counter attack but Bolton are yet to punish them, largely thanks to some missplaced passes and useful interventions from Tarkowski and Iroegbunam.

CommentsJoe Thomas25th Jul15:34 BSTBarry thinks he has opened the scoring - twiceThat is the closest Everton have come. Nice work from Barry to get the ball deep in Bolton territory and retain possession when there appeared to be few options. He then drifted into the box and rose well under pressure to head a brilliant McNeil ball just wide of the post.

He then thinks he has the opener when slides in to convert Rohl's low cross, only for the offside flag to go up.

CommentsJoe Thomas25th Jul15:30 BSTSimons heads overBolton showing more intent so far and Xavier Simons now meets a cross from the Everton left but heads over.

CommentsJoe Thomas25th Jul15:29 BSTTributes to NoahThe applause on the 15th minute was in tribute to Noah Johnson, following the teenager's tragic death.

The 15-year-old passed away after a serious asthma attack, as reported here by the Bolton News.

CommentsJoe Thomas25th Jul15:25 BSTA new corner routine?Adam Aznou happy to receive the ball out left and eager to drive forward. Just played a nice ball into the box that Barry almost met.

He now combines with the forward to help win Everton's first corner of the game, to be taken by Armstrong.

A short routine ends up with a lovely ball to the back post that the keeper has to push behind for a corner from the ther side. This is also taken short with McNeil and Alcaraz combining before McNeil puts a great cross into the box that again causes trouble. Bolton survive.

CommentsJoe Thomas25th Jul15:22 BSTTravers forced into actionThierry Gale fails to connect with a great delivery to the back post from the right flank. Would have been some effort to score from there but the cross was superb.

Travers now forced into a good save from a long-range effort. He pushes over the bar and grabs the loose ball when the corner drops his way off Barry.

There was a big round of applause there, around the 15th minute. I'll try and find out who that commemorated.

CommentsJoe Thomas25th Jul15:14 BSTA glimpse at what has been missingBolton with most of the ball in the early stages and threatening around the edge of the box - but Travers remains untested. A lovely piece of play that saw Branthwaite skip away from a winger and find Aznou in space was an early reminder of what Everton missed after his injury in the derby.

Armstrong looking the most composed on the ball.

CommentsJoe Thomas25th Jul15:04 BSTFive at the backRight, so it looks like wing backs - Aznou and Rohl out wide. Then a midfield base of Armstrong and Iroegbunam, with McNeil (R) and Alcaraz (L) narrow behind Barry.

CommentsJoe Thomas25th Jul14:59 BSTThe players are outBack to today - the players are out. Excellent to see Jarrad Branthwaite out there.

CommentsJoe Thomas25th Jul14:55 BSTA disaster for EvertonSafe to say that Garner news is a disaster for Everton. It comes amid the confirmation of Idrissa Gueye's departure and with the club still yet to address their main issue - right back.

Garner was probably Everton's best player last season and also their best right back option.

CommentsJoe Thomas25th Jul14:42 BSTJames Garner has undergone surgeryFrom the club:

"James Garner has undergone successful surgery to address a groin issue identified during pre-season.

"The Blues midfielder has begun his rehabilitation at Finch Farm and is progressing as expected, with a return to first-team training being targeted around the opening week of the Premier League season, subject to his continued recovery.

"Tyler Dibling misses the Blues' clash with Bolton due to a minor knock, while summer signing Hayden Hackney continues to be integrated into squad training after recovering from an injury at the end of last season. Both players are expected to feature against Stoke City in midweek."

CommentsJoe Thomas25th Jul14:37 BST'His commitment was exceptional'Back on Gueye, this is what David Moyes had to say upon the announcement of his departure:

“Everyone at Everton is hugely grateful for Gana’s dedication, professionalism and influence on the pitch throughout his two spells at the club.

“His leadership qualities in and around the dressing room proved crucial, particularly in our final season at Goodison. His commitment to the club over many years was exceptional.

“Everyone connected to Everton thanks Gana – he will always be welcome at the club – and we wish him and his family all the very best for the future.”