Is it any wonder that Wanderers are the hottest ticket in town at the moment?

In a week where fans snapped up every available ticket for the Papa Johns Trophy semi-final in less than an hour, Ian Evatt’s side has provided the sort of quality drama and entertainment the scriptwriters could only dream about.

Mistaken identities, controversy, shock signings, unexpected exits, and a comeback at Charlton Athletic that made Bobby Ewing’s shower look positively understated.

Life at the UniBol is never dull – and with 48 hours left in the transfer window it appears there may be another late twist.

This thoroughly deserved victory, screened for lunchtime viewing pleasure on Sky Sports, came with two asterisks. Injuries to George Johnston – Bolton’s most consistent player this season – and Shola Shoretire – the Manchester United playmaker given a criminally understated welcome by some sections of the Bolton fanbase – means Evatt may now need to think on his feet in the final 48 hours before Tuesday night’s deadline.

Should either player be out of action for a significant length of time the club must surely consider a replacement, lest a hugely encouraging first half of the campaign be placed in jeopardy.

It took Wanderers 34 games to reach the 50-point mark last season. On Saturday they reached it in 29, bringing themselves to within four points of third-placed Ipswich Town.

Defensive cover to cater for the sale of Will Aimson to Exeter City is already being sought – but Evatt can afford to leave nothing to chance as his side bid for Championship football next season, as this season is building up to be a very good opportunity indeed.

After Tuesday night’s victory against Forest Green with 10 men we all wondered what the extensive effort would take out of the team. Aaron Morley provided the most perfect settling tonic, curling a Beckham-esque free kick into the top corner after only four minutes.

Snapped up for just £75,000 last January from Rochdale, the 22-year-old is starting to give off McAteer-value vibes, especially as he gets to grips with the defensive side of the game.

Ahead early on, Wanderers were then able to strut their stuff. Shoretire took control in a way that belied his 18 years – and the fact he and the ever-willing Kyle Dempsey were willing to close down Charlton’s defenders left midfield foreman Kieran Lee free to pick and tinker around the penalty box. The home side, at that point, had little answer.

Dion Charles had been experiencing an interesting week. Wrongly sent off after scoring on Tuesday night, his three-match ban was rightly quashed by the Football Association, leaving him free to hassle and harry in his own inimitable style.

Only a fine save from Ashley Maynard-Brewer denied him the second goal of the afternoon, the home keeper getting just enough on his angled drive to push it up on to the crossbar after some fine pressing from Shoretire.

Charlton had won their previous three games and in wide men Jes Rak-Sakyi and Corey Blackett-Taylor had two obvious dangers. The former brought a fine save out of James Trafford midway through the half after darting past Johnston and Gethin Jones but it would be his miss early in the second half that would be a tipping point in the contest.

Wanderers should have been further ahead by half time. Shoretire, Johnston and Morley squeezed shots narrowly wide and Eoin Toal was twice denied from point-blank range by defenders covering on the line after a corner.

Johnston’s injury shortly before the interval had an unsteadying influence on the Whites, with Charlton taking full advantage. Albie Morgan linked with Rak-Sakyi to cut in from the left edge of the area and drill a shot which bounced just out of Trafford’s reach for the equaliser just a few minutes into the second half.

Had Rak-Sakyi tapped in a relatively simple effort right in front of goal several minutes later, we may have had a different tale to tell. But Bolton composed themselves and even after losing Shoretire, found a different way to ask questions of the home defence.

A few weeks ago, it would have been a brave man to think Declan John would put on a Wanderers shirt again.

The Welshman had dropped to fourth-choice left wing-back, riled fans with a vague tweet, and had his consistency questioned in public by his manager. But somewhere in all the headlines a compromise was reached. John convinced Evatt that he was worth a spot on the bench in midweek, and that he was the right man to replace George Johnston at half time when he succumbed to an ankle injury.

John’s second-half performance was reminiscent of his very best work in a Bolton shirt. Positive on the ball, he gave the side a good attacking balance.

Vic Adeboyajo cost a reported £500,000 from Burton on Friday and after entering the game in the second half showed the kind of strength and directness that Wanderers’ attack has lacked at times this season.

Likewise, Cameron Jerome came off the bench to add a sense of calm honed over 18 years in professional football.

Wanderers went ahead again after 68 minutes. They should have had a penalty for a trip on Kieran Lee – but no sooner had the appeals died downy, Ryan Innis made an error trying to guide the ball back to his own keeper, then left hopelessly out of position as Dempsey nodded the ball to Charles to pass into an empty net for his 14th goal of the season.

Adeboyejo will feel he should have had at least one goal to show for his debut, with two big chances falling his way before the end. Victory, it must be said, was never in any serious doubt once Charles had restored the lead.

Dean Holden’s Charlton may be one to keep an eye on, if not this season, then next, but in the League One strata Wanderers appeared on this evidence to be comfortably in the level above them.

As the league table slowly sorts out that spectrum, it now remains to be seen where Evatt’s side stand. Can they be grouped among the very finest, or is their lot to be the best of the also-rans?

The next couple of days of the transfer window may well reveal the answer.