WANDERERS cruised to their second win in five days against Pompey to strengthen their grip on a play-off spot.

Unbeaten in eight games in all competitions – a run which has included seven clean sheets – Ian Evatt’s side opened up a six-point gap on the chasing pack in League One with a comprehensive victory at the University of Bolton Stadium.

Dion Charles opened the scoring early with Kieran Lee doubling the lead after half time.

Confidence-sapped Pompey have not won a league game since October 22, and they knew the game was lost 19 minutes from the end when Eoin Toal curled in a fine third.

Wanderers made all the running early on in the half and fully deserved to take the lead 15 minutes in.

Dion Charles had wriggled through to bring a good save out of Josh Oluwayemi initially but when Pompey’s defenders failed to react to the second ball, Randell Williams struck for goal and Charles was able to stab home his 12th goal of the season.

Wanderers nearly doubled their lead immediately as Sean Raggett made a vital clearance from Kyle Dempsey’s cross, as Jon Dadi Bodvarsson loomed looking for his second goal of the week.

Sadly, the Icelander would limp off injured just a few moments later, to be replaced by debut striker Dan Nlundulu – on loan from Southampton.

Despite their flat start to the game, Pompey had a golden chance to equalise. Michael Morrison somehow put a free header wide from 10 yards out, mistiming his jump right in front of goal.

Nlundulu’s every touch was booed by the Pompey fans – never likely to overlook his Saints connections – but the striker got involved immediately, nearly connecting with Dempsey’s deep cross.

Bolton’s best football had slowed at the end of the first half but within minutes of the restart they had the security of a second goal.

Dempsey did well to beat his man and dig a cross out from the right, and when keeper Oluwayemi failed to catch the ball, Kieran Lee was there to guide it past defenders on the line.

Eoin Toal made an important block to keep out a near-post effort from Michael Jacobs as Pompey threw everything forward in an effort to get back into the game. And the Northern Irishman then showed his silky skills at the other end of the pitch, finishing off a wonderful one-touch move on the edge of the penalty box with an inch perfect shot into the bottom corner.