Bolton Wanderers booked their place in the second round of the Carabao Cup with a 5-1 thrashing of Salford City.
Brandon Thomas-Asante put the visitors in front, but Wanderers equalised through Elias Kachunga. Jon Dadi Bodvarsson ensured Wanderers went into the break ahead.
Kieran Sadlier added a third after half-time, before Liverpool loanee Conor Bradley came off the bench to score a stunning fourth. Dapo Afolayan scored a late fifth before George Thomason was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Luke Bolton.
READ MORE: Bolton Wanderers player ratings vs Salford City - Jones, Lee, Kachunga & Bodvarsson good in win
After the game, Wanderers boss Ian Evatt gave his immediate reaction to the encounter after his side reached the second round.
What did you make of it?
“What I said before about the strength of the squad, that is the case in point. A really good performance. Great energy, good attitude, some wonderful goals – you can’t really ask for more."
You made a lot of changes - is that among the most pleasing aspects for you?
“I have said it and I mean it, and they know it, I trust them all. I don’t think there is any drop off from anyone. It doesn’t matter what team I pick, I don’t think it is necessarily weaker.
“I think it is a really good group of players that need to stick together. They are all going to be needed at whatever stage, and again tonight that is the case in point of how good they are when they are on it.
“I thought it was a good game. I thought Salford came to play. A couple of sharp counter attacks first half that caused us problems, and their goal kind of made us angry.
“Then, all of a sudden we just went through the gears. The second goal, I think you won’t see a better goal than that. 31 passes, really pleased.
“If ever there was a goal to define what we are trying to do and what we are trying to be then that is it.”
Did the sending off at the end take the gloss off it?
“It is not a red card. I think the player should be given a second yellow for the foul on Afolayan. The referee doesn’t do it and rightly so probably, with the stage of the game and the scoreline.
“And then young George, that isn’t him. He has clearly won the ball, it is one-footed. We will appeal it and hopefully they will see sense and rescind it.”
You said a couple of weeks ago th most difficult thing part might be keeping players happy who aren't regular starters and that win must have given you more food for thought?
"It is not an easy job being a manager, not when you have got so many good players that you believe in and you trust. But they have to trust me that I am going to pick the right team against the right challenge.
“There are going to be changes at times but as we have seen tonight, it doesn’t mean we are any weaker.
“We just have to share that pressure and share the workload. I am delighted with what they did tonight.”
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