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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
John McDougall

Why Bolton Wanderers now have the options to come out on top against League One's physical teams

Ian Evatt feels Bolton Wanderers now have more of tools at their disposal to play against physical sides in League One and feels the win over Accrington Stanley was a perfect example of that.

Dapo Afolayan put the hosts in front before half-time versus Accrington at the University of Bolton Stadium with his 14th strike of the season as Wanderers went in leading at the break yesterday on Easter Monday.

Jay Rich-Baghuelou leveled for the visitors early in the second half before Jon Dadi Bodvarsson came off the bench to fire Wanderers back in front.

READ MORE: Sunderland & Sheffield Wednesday play-off tips made as Bolton Wanderers final position predicted

Accrington had a goal for Tommy Leigh ruled out for offside before they were reduced to 10 men after Rosaire Longelo was shown a straight red card for fouling Aaron Morley, before Bodvarsson scored his second to wrap up the three points for Wanderers in a 3-1 victory.

In the past, Wanderers have struggled to deal with sides which are perhaps adopt a more physical approach and press them highly, with Evatt describing clashes like that as Bolton's 'Kryptonite' this campaign.

By bringing the likes of Bodvarsson and Amadou Bakayoko off the bench, Evatt feels Wanderers now have the options to play over teams when playing through them is not working.

And he was pleased that Afolayan also managed to end a goalscoring drought which stretched back to mid-February.

Evatt said: "We haven't had the different options to maybe bring some physicality on and play over the press rather than through it. I want us to get into a position where we can do both naturally.

"We can play through if you allow us to play through, but if you to full press us then we’ll play over and we’ve got players that can handle that and win individual battles.

“He (Afolayan) looked like he was ready for today and wanted to make an impact and he has made an impact.

"Again we must remember this is Dapo’s first full season in men’s professional football and he’s had ups and downs but he’s had a brilliant season for us. Today another goal and I thought it was a good performance from him.”

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