DION Charles showed both sides of his game to claim a two-goal haul against Fleetwood.
Ian Evatt was delighted to see the striker end 13-game barren spell with a brace on the final day of the season.
The Northern Ireland international levelled the game just before half time, when put his side 3-2 up in the second half with a spectacular slide tackle from 40 yards.
“I haven’t seen a goal like that before but it is Dion in a nutshell, really,” Evatt remarked after the game. “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 deserves the praise.”
Wanderers made two changes to the side that had beaten Cheltenham the previous weekend, with Amadou Bakayoko coming in for Jon Dadi Bodvarsson up front and George Thomason replacing the injured MJ Williams in midfield.
Younger Thomason impressed on the day, finishing second behind Charles in The Bolton News’ online man of the match poll behind Charles.
“I think you can all see progression,” Evatt said of his young playmaker. “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.”
Fans sang Bakayoko’s name as he walked off the pitch, ending his first season as a Wanderers player.
Evatt has been pleased with the Sierra Leone international’s contribution – but says he may need to edge closer to the celebrated “20 goals” if Bolton are to get closer to automatic promotion next term.
“The fans have now got their favourites and we missed that so much last season with having no supporters in,” he said.
“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.”
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