WANDERERS (3-5-2)

 

JOEL DIXON…7.5.

Made some routine but important saves to ensure Salford never built up momentum but was especially impressive as a sweeper when the visitors went long.

GETHIN JONES…7.

Captain for the night and comfortable in a defensive sense, allowing him to pick his moments to drive forward. Big contributions to a couple of the goals.

WILL AIMSON…7.

Tasked with the Santos last-man role, he made one terrific challenge to halt Thomas-Asante on the edge of the box.

GEORGE JOHNSTON…7.

Improved as the game went on. Maybe a shade too eager in the first half, leaving space between himself and John, but very tidy after that.

KIERAN SADLIER…8.

Ploughed through some good defensive work alongside the more creative stuff we know he can do. Grabbed a good goal with the help of Jack Iredale.

MJ WILLIAMS…7.

Much stronger in the last hour as he closed the gaps which allowed Salford to get their wide men into play. Used the ball as economically as ever.

KIERAN LEE…8.5.

Ran the show from minute one for Wanderers. A bundle of energy with exactly the right attitude on the night.

GEORGE THOMASON…7.5.

Had been bob on up to the last minute of the game. Hard to judge from the press box on how much control he had over the tackle – but manager and team-mates back up his argument.

DECLAN JOHN…5.5.

Suffering from a virus of some sort and it told. John wasn’t quite at the races for most of the first half and was replaced by Iredale.

JON DADI BODVARSSON…8.

Deceptively quick, rangy, and very, very unselfish. Finished off one of the best team goals the stadium has ever seen.

ELIAS KACHUNGA…8.

One of his most impressive performances in a Bolton shirt. If he is regaining the form he showed in November, Evatt has a selection issue on his hands.

Subs: Iredale 7, 45 (for John) – Seems to improve with each outing.

Bradley 75 (for Sadlier) – The crowd told him to shoot. And he did. Amazing strike.

Afolayan 82 (for Bodvarsson) – There’s no party without a Dapo goal.

Khumbeni 82 (for Thomason) – Debut for the midfielder who has had good reviews this summer.

Toure 88 (for Jones) – One to watch. Strong, quick and versatile. Another academy debutant.

Not used: Trafford, Bakayoko, Morley, Dempsey.

Salford (4-2-1-3): King; Lowe, Vassell, Leak, Berkoe; Watt, Lund; McAleny; Thomas-Assante, Smith, Bolton.

Subs: Watson 66 (for Lund), Hendry 66 (for Smith), Touray 66 (for Leak) Not used: Torrance, Simoes, Porter, Sargent, O’Brien, Dackers.

Referee: John Brooks 6/10 – Things had ticked along quite nicely until the final few minutes when he missed a lunging challenge on Afolayan – which should have been a second yellow card – then reached instinctively for his red card for Thomason’s challenge. More evidence that referees need to be able to step back, breathe and review incidents like this at every level of the game. It is just as important.

Attendance: 6,505 (781)