Bolton Wanderers returned to action in style on Saturday as they eased past Lincoln City with a domineering display.
The Imps were granted very few opportunities and James Trafford or George Johnston were on hand to clear the danger on the few occasions the visitors threatened to cause problems. Wanderers managed to make their control count and took the lead in the first half when Dion Charles dispatched from the penalty spot.
Elias Kachunga and Kieran Lee both had great chances to extend the lead but it wasn't until the introduction of Jon Dadi Bodvarsson and Dapo Afolayan did Bolton secure the result. The Icelander was given a gift when Sean Roughan threw the ball straight to him. He then played a smart one-two with Afolayan and made no mistake from 12 yards.
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It's now four wins on the spin for Wanderers as they continue their strong start in the promotion hunt. There aren't many negatives to take from the match but the side's lack of a real killer instinct remains a concern.
Bolton enjoyed 61 per cent of the possession, spending plenty of time in the opposition box, but it wasn't until the 84th minute that they put the result beyond doubt. Kachunga missed two great chances, with his mishap in the opening minutes of the second half being particularly egregious. Charles did brilliantly to put the ball on a plate for him at the back post but he couldn't sort his feet out and the chance went begging.
Charles himself also could have done better in the box on a couple of occasions but was hesitant, Lee was denied by an inch-perfect tackle and on plenty of occasions the final action in the attacking third was just slightly out of joint. It's a problem that Ian Evatt has noticed.
The manager said: "I thought we created quite a few chances considering and it was just our last bit of detail and our last bit of execution again that let us down. We probed and we carried on getting loads of final third entries we just didn't at times have that bit of quality or execution to really break them down. Having said that, we should have had a stonewall penalty second half. I think the penalty definitely is one second half and we've missed some good chances as well."
If that composure and ruthlessness can be added in attack then it will see Bolton eliminate the anxiety that one mishap in concentration could cost them. That aside, it was a massively pleasing performance that should enhance optimism for a playoff push.
Bolton are now finding a level of consistency and much of that stems from being more solid defensively. The attackers are pressing hard to limit opportunities, the defenders are cleaning up any danger and, if it gets through to him, Trafford is on hand to make stunning saves and vital interventions.
"But I thought the way we controlled the game was really good," Evatt added. "I thought our defensive responsibility from one to 11 was first class. They were looking to play in transition and on the counter-attack and I think we limited them to very little."
Bolton's control of games is also helped by the dynamic midfield trio of MJ Williams, George Thomason and Lee. Everyone brings a different aspect to the pot that makes the stew sing.
Williams anchors the midfield by sitting deep, collecting any loose balls and snuffing out counter-attacks while next to him Thomason is buzzing around the pitch leading the charge and making neat passes. Lee is the classy element who drifts across the final third making delightful triangles and helping Bolton play some spellbinding football.
Just like against Peterborough, Bolton's bench also made an impact. It was Afolayan who scored the winner against the Posh and he turned provider this time to play through Bodvarsson after Lincoln had inexplicably given the ball away at a throw-in.
There's such massive competition for places at the moment that several first-team players - Josh Sheehan, Declan John - didn't even make the bench on Saturday but that strength in depth will serve the Whites well in a long, hard campaign.
Players may be frustrated by a lack of minutes, but Evatt isn't seeing any negativity seep into his squad. "They're constantly driving and pushing each other," he explained.
"I'm happy they're so together because they need to treat each other with respect, they're teammates at the end of the day and they need to go that extra mile and that extra yard for their teammates. If they want to fall out with me because I pick the team I'm okay with that, providing they treat the team correctly.
"I will treat anybody how they treat the team and their teammates. I don't see any of that. Misery needs a friend at the end of the day, doesn't it? So I don't see anyone going around trying to divide."
