Bolton Wanderers consolidated their place in the League One top six with a dramatic 2-1 win late on against Burton Albion.
Dapo Afolayan and Aaron Morley both saw efforts go off target in the early stages as Wanderers started brightly. However, the Whites were unable to carve out many clear cut opportunities in a frustrating first half they had much of the ball for against a Burton side which struggled to create much.
After the break, despite Wanderers continuing to dominate but creating few opportunities to speak of, the visitors took the lead. Sam Hughes headed home off the far post from Terry Taylor's corner.
READ MORE: Burton boss Dino Maamria's choice words after Bolton loss on Wanderers celebrations & officials
Amadou Bakayoko struck as full-time approached to level for the hosts past Ben Garratt. Kieran Lee hit the post in stoppage time and Conor Bradley had an effort saved, but Jon Dadi Bodvarsson fired home through a crowded penalty area deep into injury time after the Brewers failed to clear a corner and hand Wanderers a huge three points which sees the Whites now fifth in the table.
Here, we analyse the ups and downs from a Wanderers perspective following the dramatic 2-1 injury time win.
Ups
Coming from behind again to find way to win
Wanderers made it two wins from two in the space of four days in League One. From positions against Accrington Stanley and now Burton, zero points were turned into six.
It was shown over the weekend that this team does not give up when faced with challenges and setbacks in games. It was proven again with the victory over the Brewers.
Despite not being at their fluid best, Wanderers found a way to get three points. The first goal from a long ball up the pitch from James Trafford and the second in the next phase of a set piece, which Wanderers aren't always the best at, was hugely encounraging.
Substitutes make impact
Like at the weekend too, it was an evening for the substitutes to come off the bench to change the game and make an impact. Two of them ended up on the scoresheet.
Bakayoko added some fresh pace to an attack which struggled to carve out chances with Dion Charles and Elias Kachunga, despite their best efforts, and was rewarded with great first time finish. Bodvarsson too helped to change the encounter and was clinical when the late chance presented itself.
Moreover, Josh Sheehan getting his first League One minutes of the season was a welcome sight, while Kieran Lee added some extra quality in the middle of the park and Kieran Sadlier's deliveries caused problems. For not the first time this campaign and almost certainly not the last, the bench showed its worth.
Strikers among the goals once more
Wanderers' strikers have had a tough time in front of goal in League One of late. It was at the start of the month that the last goals in the division came for the club's recognised centre forwards in the form of Charles and Bodvarsson.
The former continues to go through a lean patch in front of goal, though it is not through lack of trying and hard work, with goals surely to come for the Northern Ireland international. Bakayoko and Bodvarsson meanwhile now have that goalscoring feeling back.
It was Bakayoko's first League One goal of the campaign, while it was the second for Bodvarsson in the division. Hopefully they can both take confidence from that and truly kickstart their seasons.
Downs
Set piece goal conceded
Despite securing the three points and coming from behind, for so long in the evening it felt like one of those games for Wanderers. They had much of the ball but were frustrated by a Burton side who came with a game plan to hold up the Whites, disrupt the game, and nick a goal.
To their credit, it almost worked and the goal for Hughes came through a weakness for Wanderers which all are familiar with. A corner came in and the former Chester FC youngster nodded home at the back post as it went in off the woodwork.
Again, it remains a weakness that occasionally crops up for the Whites. Fortunately, it did not end up costing them in the end, but it remains an area to tighten up on.
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