WANDERERS looked out on their feet – but they still had enough to grind out three points against Port Vale to keep themselves in the promotion picture.

Victor Adeboyejo and Josh Sheehan scored the goals as Bolton fought back from a goal down to earn a scrappy win, which puts them back to within six points of the top two.

After their midweek adventures in the Papa Johns Trophy, you wondered what impact the emotions would have on Bolton’s performance. Within a few minutes it was clear to see the effect was not a positive one.

There had already been a few slips and misplaced passes before the one that led to the visitors’ opening goal. Ricardo Santos coughed up possession and allowed Matty Taylor to slide a pass through for Ben Garrity, who crossed low for Ellis Harrison to score from close range.

It was the first goal James Trafford had conceded at the UniBol in more than 16 hours of solid football, and the Bolton keeper found himself busier than in any game during that three-month run, making fine saves from Harrison and Garrity in an action-packed first half.

Wanderers took a while to warm up but got back on level terms on 18 minutes after Randell Williams collected a short corner from Josh Sheehan and darted to the by-line to clip a cross to Adeboyejo to score.

Sheehan then put the Whites ahead with a neat finish from the edge of the box, after Adeboyejo had done well to bring the ball down and lay-up the chance.

Bolton fans may have expected their side to push on from there and secure the game but, to their credit, Vale refused to lie down.

Referee Will Finnie took a very lenient line, which made for the sort of physical contest Wanderers could have done without after a week where they had already faced two of the division’s hardest-hitters, Wycombe and Accrington.

Evatt made two changes at the break, bringing on Gethin Jones and Dion Charles for Luke Mbete and Shola Shoretire and then lost the services of Adeboyejo to injury, meaning a return for Dan Nlundulu.

The second half was less entertaining, and though Bolton still had to be careful at the back, Vale struggled to create the same number of chances they had in the first 45 minutes.

The visitors brought on ex-Bolton man Dennis Politic to seek out a second goal, and he created a decent chance for fellow sub Tom Conlon after winning the ball from Williams and picking out his team-mate, who was denied by Trafford at his near post.

Wanderers struggled to find a third to end the game, their best moment coming five minutes before the end when Conor Bradley got behind his marker to put a ball across the face of goal – but just out of Nlundulu’s reach.

Vale nearly salvaged a late point when Taylor poked a shot at goal which had to be clawed from under the crossbar by Trafford.

Bolton held on, though, and might on this evidence need a little rest and relaxation before Tuesday’s night’s trip to Portsmouth.