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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
John McDougall

Afolayan, clean sheet record - Five ups and one down for Bolton Wanderers in Cambridge win

Bolton Wanderers are back in the top half of the League One table after a 2-0 win over Cambridge United as they extended a winning run to four games.

After a host of chances where Wanderers should have taken the lead in the first half, they did just that when Amadou Bakayoko slotted home before half-time.

Bolton weathered pressure from the U's in the first 15 minutes after the break as Mark Bonner's side sought a route back into the encounter.

READ MORE: ' Appropriate' - Gillingham chairman breaks silence on Kyle Dempsey's Bolton Wanderers transfer

But Dapo Afolayan made the points secure with a great solo effort to ensure Wanderers went four wins on the bounce and indeed with four clean sheets in a row which has lifted them back into the top half of the table.

Here we analyse the win for Wanderers and the ups and downs from a fourth win on the bounce.

Ups

Four clean sheets on the bounce give Trafford record

It was not only four wins in succession but four clean sheets in a row for Wanderers and James Trafford.

In doing so, Trafford broke a Bolton club record by recording a quartet of shutouts in a row in his first four Wanderers game, breaking the prior one previously held by Simon Farnworth.

In truth, Trafford was not tested much against the U's but he accomplished whatever he need to as the Wanderers defence has returned to a watertight state which is being the bedrock of the last four successes.

Lee absence did not have much impact

Kieran Lee was not involved in last night's win as he was rested.

Given he was instrumental in the big win over Sunderland on Saturday, there was perhaps a slight concern that Lee absence might be felt.

But it was not as Afolayan moved into the number 10 role with license to roam, with Bakayoko partnering Dion Charles upfront.

Lee is expected to be back for this weekend against Morecambe and his availability again will give Ian Evatt a welcome headache.

Afolayan back to his best

Afolayan started the season on fire at Wanderers, before see his influence wane in the mid-part of the campaign as Bolton too experienced a dip.

He came out of the team earlier this month and made two impressive contributions off the bench, and has started the last two matches against Sunderland and Cambridge.

The new system being employed has perhaps benefitted him but there is no dobut that Afolayan is back to his vibrant best and it will take opposition teams some going to halt him in this vein of form.

Strength in depth as new signings continue to impress and develop

Jon Dadi Bodvarsson and Kieran Sadlier came off the bench in last night's win as goalscoerers Afolayan and Bakayoko made way.

The pleasing things from their introduction is that the change of the attack did not show any real drop off really and both players seem to be improving with each appearance they make in their currently fledgling Bolton careers.

Marlon Fossey has been a revelation at right wing-back and Wanderers will surely want to make his signing permanent in the summer if possible, while Aaron Morley is a joy to watch in central midfield on the ball, despite being just 21.

Last night was yet more evidence of the success of the January transfer window - and Kyle Dempsey is still to come.

Downs

Frequent clinical edge goes missing from weekend

Against Sunderland over the weekend, it seems like Wanderers scored with every shot on goal they had - which is nearly true with six from seven on target.

It looked like a similar scoreline to the 6-0 drubbing of the Black Cats was on the cars last night, but Wanderers lacked a clinical edge in front of goal before Bakayoko finally broke the deadlock.

It it perhaps the only down side to last night's game that Wanderers were not home and hosed by half-time.

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