Bolton Wanderers booked their place in the last 16 of the Papa Johns Trophy with a 3-2 win over Barrow.
The Whites took the lead when Dapo Afolayan slotted home from a lovely ball from MJ Williams. They doubled their advantage soon after that when Kieran Sadlier put in a low cross for Jon Dadi Bodvarsson to tuck home.
But the visitors were handed a way back into the game when Joel Dixon could not hold onto Ben Whitfield's shot and Josh Kay eventually turned home. It gave the visitors a route back into the encounter.
READ MORE: Bolton Wanderers player ratings vs Barrow - Dapo Afolayan and Elias Kachunga good in victory
After the break, the visitors levelled as Niall Canavan nodded home from close range after Josh Gordon flicked on from a corner. However, the Whites went back ahead as Elias Kachunga slotted home after Afolayan's shot came off the post.
Despite late pressure from the Bluebirds, Wanderers hung on to book their place in the last 16, albeit after an evening which they made harder work of than they needed to. After the game, Wanderers boss Ian Evatt gave his initial reaction and here's what he had to say.
You were made to work for it tonight but progression is all that matters?
“I thought they caused us some issues, they came and had a go at us and came with a good gameplan to sit in a mid block and play fast forwards in transitions. First half I thought we were excellent actually, I thought it was quite fluid, some of the stuff we did was great, and probably the game should really be over at half-time.
“We’ve given them a little bit of hope with that goal just before the break, regardless of whether it was a foul or not, it was a disappointing goal to concede and then second half, I don’t think we were at our fluid best. Sometimes that can happen, some of those lads have not played lots of football of late.
“We made nine changes from Saturday, but you also have to give credit to the opposition. I thought they came with a good game plan and caused us some real issues at times. But the most important thing is we’re through to the next round and we can look forward to that now.”
Should their first goal been ruled out for a foul on Afolayan?
“It looked a foul to me but I’d have to see it back. For me it was a foul and I don’t think the ball for the second goal was out either, but we get those decisions.
“They’ll probably moan about a handball they could have had as well so it’s just one of those things. Both sides get rough decisions during the course of a game and the most important thing is we’re through to the next round.”
Dapo was the matchwinner on Saturday and he popped up with a great goal tonight?
“We’re trying to get him to run in behind a little bit more. Dapo is very much a pocket player, he wants to receive wide or in pockets and turn and dribble but we need a different dynamic to his game and that is running in behind at times, making those sacrificial runs, sometimes not for him to receive the ball but sometimes for others to receive in space.
“He’s took that on board and that run is great credit to him to make that forward run and then get on the end of it. He’s a good player.”
Kyle Dempsey came off in the first half, how is he?
“He’s got what looks like a pretty nasty ankle injury. He’s in a boot at the moment, we won’t know the severity of that until we get him looked at and scanned and things settle down but it does not look great at the minute.”
Was Amadou Bakayoko a late one to include him in the squad?
“He arrived back yesterday morning. He didn’t train yesterday but wanted to be involved tonight, which is great credit to him and it was good to have him back.”
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