A finale that brought more drama than such a dead rubber really warranted but nevertheless another win in what sends Wanderers into the play-offs in rude form.

Ian Evatt had warned that his starting line-up at the Memorial Stadium would be quite different to his last – and the fact only three players kept their place showed at times in what was a pretty erratic performance.

Shola Shoretire nudged his side ahead before Luca Hoole levelled. Dan Nlundulu and Aaron Morley put some distance between the sides with two smart finishes in the second half but, once again, Joey Barton’s battling Bristolians gave themselves a chance, John Marquis netting a second and Scott Sinclair heading against the bar with the game’s last act.

It had been a contest without consequence, and it showed. Wanderers’ back three had been unsteady with the just-fit-again Ricardo Santos still playing catch-up and keeper Joel Dixon playing his first league game since January 2022. Never before has James Trafford’s assuredness been missed so much.

It was Sod’s Law, of course, that one of the three players who were risked by Evatt – Gethin Jones – would pick up a hamstring problem, forcing him off midway through the first half. It is hoped he injury will not mean the end of his season but did not look encouraging at all.

Santos was withdrawn at half time – which had always been the plan, says Evatt – and Shoretire limped off in the second half with cramp.

If Bolton’s route to the play-offs has been simple before Sunday lunchtime, here is where is started to get tricky.

Evatt watched the first half in the comfort of the directors’ box and later remarked that his team had been “in control” before the break.

That certainly should have been the case once Jones flicked on Morley’s corner for Shoretire to crash home his first Bolton goal on 24 minutes.

In open play, Wanderers were playing some decent football, and were able to gamble more men forward with Santos marshalling the back line once again. The trouble came when Rovers put the ball in the penalty box, as they did on 28 minutes, when Santos and Dixon were left stranded by Sam Finley’s cross which bounced off the post before being tucked away by Hoole.

Victor Adeboyejo was enjoying one of his best games since signing at Wanderers, causing no end of problems to the home defence as he darted into the channels. He was unlucky not to have scored, too, as a bobbling shot late in the half glanced off the post.

Rovers hit the woodwork too – Josh Coburn’s header rattling the bar, with the young Middlesbrough loanee also landing on the frame of the goal himself, forcing him off at the break.

Barton’s side might have fancied their chances at that stage but it was Bolton who came out swinging in the second period, with Morley getting on the ball more and Randell Williams a good outlet on the right.

Wanderers got back into the lead with a goal of some simplicity. A long ball down the middle found George Thomason and when he chested into Dan Nlundulu’s path, the Southampton loanee placed an inch perfect shot into the bottom corner to open his Bolton account.

When Randell Williams cut in from the right to feed Morley a few minutes later, the young midfielder’s brilliant curling shot beat James Belshaw for the third and should have killed the game stone dead.

To give Rovers some credit, though, they refused to lie down in front of their biggest crowd of the season. A flurry of late attacking substitutions took the brakes off completely and Marquis managed to bundle in a second from close range after Dixon had made a smart stop from Anthony Evans.

Sinclair rattled the bar with a late header – dashing hopes that a battling point could be celebrated on the lap of appreciation following the club’s return to League One level.

For Wanderers a 14th away win of the campaign in a season which now gets really serious.

Evatt has been given something to think about with Santos’s slow-ish return, Jones’s injury and a potential issue for Shoretire. Equally, he will have taken some real positives from good displays from the likes of Nlundulu, Morley, Adeboyejo and Randell Williams.

To use the manager’s turn of phrase, this strange brew is “coming to the boil” at the right time.