Ian Evatt believes Dion Charles deserved the goals he got in the final game of the season against Fleetwood Town but believes all the forward players at Bolton Wanderers need to give more next season.
Wanderers went behind thanks to a brilliant finish from Barry Baggley, but the hosts struck back before half-time thanks to Charles ending a goalscoring drought which run until mid-February with a low strike.
Declan John then put the hosts in front with a great low finish after the break, before Joe Garner levelled from a corner to put the Cod Army back on level terms.
READ MORE: Bolton Wanderers player ratings vs Fleetwood Town - Charles, John, Morley & Bakayoko good
Charles scored from 45 yards with a slide tackle which ended up lofting over goalkeeper Alex Cairns and into the back of the net to give Wanderers the lead again.
Jon Dadi Bodvarsson then scored with the final kick of the game as they secured a ninth placed finish with a 4-2 victory after Portsmouth suffered defeat at the hands of Sheffield Wednesday, while the Cod Army secured their League One status despite losing at the University of Bolton Stadium.
Charles had previously last scored in the 4-0 home demolition of AFC Wimbledon but ended that goal drought in style with a fantastic finish for the first and a second which came through his sheer desire and a tackle from 45 yards which ended up in the back of the net.
Wanderers have a strikeforce which includes Dapo Afolayan ending season as top scorer with 14 goals, closely followed by Amadou Bakayoko on 13 strikes, with January signings Charles and Bodvarsson on eight and seven goals respectively.
Evatt is happy for Charles and Bakayoko, the latter whose goal tally came in just 17 starts, but wants more from his forwards next season as they aim to challenge for promotion next season.
He said: “I haven’t seen a goal like that before but it is Dion in a nutshell, really. Fantastic, clinical finish for the first goal and the second one just being a pest, hard work, closing down and being aggressive.
“He has deserved it. He has been through some tough times and missed some chances, had some bad luck along the way but here he made his own luck – if he isn’t there to press then the goal doesn’t happen. He deserved the praise.
“The fans have now got their favourites and we missed that so much last season with having no supporters in.
“It is great for him. I think he has scored 13 in 17 starts, which is exceptional, but he like all the others know we need more next season, so it’s back to the hard work.”
George Thomason was handed a start yesterday in the win over the Cod Army, impressing in the middle of the pitch alongside Aaron Morley.
And Evatt believes the youngster has a bright future at the club after developing physically.
He said: “I think you can all see progression. Physically he is really filling into his body now.
“Technically he wants to learn and he is a pleasure to be around. He is demanding for a young player and sets really high standards for himself.
"He wants to be the best he can be all around the pitch, so that is good news for the future."
