WANDERERS (3-4-1-2).

 

JOEL DIXON…5.

Needed a strong night but the goal was sloppy. Had to be more commanding when the cross came into the penalty box, regardless of who was in front of him.

WILL AIMSON…6.

Lost his temper early on and might have been a bit lucky to escape with one snappy challenge on Sambou. Recovered his poise after that.

EOIN TOAL…6.

Defended well. Still obviously feeling his way in a Bolton shirt but it was a good sign that he recovered quickly from the mix-up with Dixon.

GEORGE JOHNSTON…6.

A pretty comfortable night, all in all. Johnston got himself forward on a couple of occasions down the left and produced some decent crosses.

GETHIN JONES…6.5.

Always planned to leave the game at half time – and it was a shame in some respects, as he had been one of the Whites’ main outlets.

JOSH SHEEHAN…7.5.

Great to see him back in action after more than nine months, and hardly missing a beat too. Short or long, his passing was great.

GEORGE THOMASON…8.

Waited patiently after that red card against Salford, and produced one of his best first team performances so far. Drove things from midfield.

JACK IREDALE…7.5.

Provided some excellent service from the left, given a fairly free role to attack at will by the retreating Crewe defence. Encouraging.

KIERAN SADLIER…7.

We had been keen to see him in the number 10 role and while it didn’t all go according to plan, he deserved a goal at the end for sheer persistence.

DAPO AFOLAYAN…6.

Went close a couple of times before being brought off on the hour. Maybe guilty of being a bit too intricate at times but seemed to enjoy his night.

AMADOU BAKAYOKO…6.

Opened the scoring, then missed a couple of chances that were arguably easier. Hasn’t been an easy few weeks for the big striker.

Subs: Bradley 7, 46 (for Jones) – Carried on Jones’s sense of adventure on the right.

Williams 6, 60 (for Sheehan) – Tidy in possession towards the end.

Charles 8, 60 (for Bakayoko) – Defenders were tiring, and Charles took full advantage.

Kachunga 7, 60 (for Afolayan) – Also thrived on a tiring defence.

Santos 6, 60 (for Toal) – Relatively simple half hour’s work for the captain.

Not used: Morley, Dempsey.

Crewe: Richards 8, Mellor 5, Williams 6, Baker-Richardson 5.5, Griffiths 6, O Finney 6, Leshabela 6, Sambou 5.5, Sass-Davies 5.5, C Finney 7, Tabiner 6.5.

Subs: Offord 6, 46 (for Mellor), Agyei 5, 46 (for Baker-Richardson), Ainley 71 (for O Finney), King 71 (for Griffiths).

Not used: Okonkwo, McDonald, Offord, Thomas.

Attendance: 2,115.

Referee: Scott Oldham 8/10 – Sorted out a spat between Aimson and Sambou early doors and showed a bit of leniency when the battle resurfaced a few minutes later.