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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
John McDougall

Jon Dadi Bodvarsson on Bolton Wanderers wish, Dion Charles goal struggles and Icelandic clap

Jon Dadi Bodvarsson admits he wishes the season was not about to come to an end as he hits his stride at Bolton Wanderers as he believes fellow striker Dion Charles will get back in the goalscoring groove.

Dapo Afolayan put the hosts in front before half-time against Accrington Stanley 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 the Iceland international came off the bench to fire Wanderers back in front.

READ MORE: 'Who's the Dadi?' - Ex-Blackpool boss Ian Holloway's brilliant take on Bodvarsson's Bolton goals

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.

Bodvarsson has scored six goals for Wanderers since joining in the January transfer window as he bagged his first brace for the club.

The Iceland international was pleased with the impact he made off the bench against Stanley and admits with the form he is showing after getting up to speed at the club following his January transfer window switch from Millwall, he does not want the season to end.

He said: “My goal was to come in with as much energy as I could and bring some physicality up front, because they were quite physical.

“The first goal I just went for it, and it went in. The second one did too and I felt great out there. Two goals, I’m a happy man.

“He just said to bring some physicality in there because we’d struggled a bit in the first half, needed to make the ball stick a bit more and get us higher up the pitch.

“I tried my best to do it, I think it went well, thankfully.

“I just want to keep going. I wish there were more games left.

“But at the same time I know we just need to finish this season strong for confidence next season."

Bodvarsson now has the same number of goals for Bolton as fellow January signing Charles, who last found the back of the net in mid-February.

While Charles has struggled in front of goal, Bodvarsson and Amadou Bakayoko have thrived in the final third, but the Iceland international knows what his team mate is experiencing right now having gone through it before in his career.

Bodvarsson is convinced Charles just needs one goal and then more will come for the former Accrington striker.

The Wanderers fans have taken to Bodvarsson unbelievably well and the Icelandic thunderclap is now a regular feature whenever the striker finds the back of the net or comes off the bench.

Though pleased to see and hear it, Bodvarsson joked the timing on the clap needs to improve and that a drum is needed - and when it comes he will be there to join in!

He said: “They need a drum, for me. They need some timing.

“When they get that I’ll join them and we’ll crack on, hopefully.

“I have been there countless times myself, and as a centre forward you just need a bit of love, appreciation.

“He is working really hard every single game. There is nothing wrong with his work ethic, he is doing everything right, he just needs that one goal and it will come eventually.

“It will come, there are only two games left now so he just has to finish as positively as possible and then get ready for pre-season, build his confidence from there.

“You can feel it from the fans and we as players bring our arms together and help each other out. If one person is down, you help him out.

“I don’t think Dion has any lack of confidence, he just needs that goal and then it is like a catch-up effect, once he scores one it will flood in."

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