Elias Kachunga believes members of the Bolton Wanderers squad took the chance to make boss Ian Evatt's decision for his team selection against Port Vale as hard as possible following their big Carabao Cup win over Salford City.
Brandon Thomas-Asante put the visitors in front last night at the University of Bolton Stadium, 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 as the Whites booked their place in the second round in style with a 5-1 win.
READ MORE: Bolton Wanderers player ratings vs Salford City - Jones, Lee, Kachunga & Bodvarsson good in win
Kachunga was one of eight changes Evatt made to his team from the one which started the 3-0 victory over Wycombe Wanderers at the weekend. Next up for the Whites is a trip to take on Port Vale at Vale Park on Saturday.
And the forward, who notched a goal and an assist in the big win over the Ammies, is pleased with how he and his team-mates performed last night. He hopes it has given Evatt something to think about for the trip to Burslem.
Kachunga said: “The boys who were not playing at the weekend wanted to show a good performance and we did it. Good win, goals, perfect evening.
“Obviously I have been waiting to play. I have only had a couple of minutes since the start of the season so in the cup game I wanted to show the gaffer that I am ready to play, and I can give a good performance. One assist, one goal, I am contented.
“I think we scored a few good goals, good combinations. I think we wanted to show we could do that. At the weekend we got three goals, then five here, I am really pleased for that.
“This was a chance to make it as hard for the gaffer as possible to select a team for the weekend. He knows now that he has good options on the bench if you don’t play well.
“It was important for the guys who had not been in the team to give a performance to push the players who have been in the starting 11 for the first games. It is good to push each other.
“It has been a good start but nothing else. This was a strong performance and we are in the next round but we are only at the start. We have to keep pushing each other and keep winning.
“I will be looking forward to the next video meeting to watch that game again. I think there were things that we can improve and we are already thinking now about Saturday and how we have to prepare for what will be a totally different game than this one.”
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