What looked like a week from hell has seen Bolton Wanderers turn an unlikely corner in League One.

Three games, more than 1,100 miles of travel, but a team now looking like it has recovered from the early season wobbles and is upwardly mobile once again.

In drenched conditions at Sixfields, Ian Evatt’s side looked rampant for the most part, John McAtee, George Thomason, Eoin Toal and Dion Charles establishing a thoroughly deserved four-goal lead.

Two late consolations took a little of the shine off, as Tom Eaves and Jon Guthrie headed home in stoppage time, but with the Bolton fans cheering his name perhaps the most important moment of the night came after the final whistle as Ricardo Santos turned to the away supporters and applauded, albeit from a distance.

Wanderers changed-up their front two, bringing in McAtee and Aaron Collins for Victor Adeboyejo and Dion Charles, and there was a welcome return on the bench for Klaidi Lolos after injury.

The game had been officially given the go-ahead by officials at around 6.30pm but the swirling rain and sodden patches in the wider areas of the pitch meant uncertainty hung in the air right the way up to kick-off. Bolton had been here before, of course, and nobody wanted to see another Plymouth, Cambridge or Mansfield.

Santos had been the name on everyone’s lips before the game. Talk of online abuse and falling out with supporters was not the ideal build-up, but if the minority had caused him upset, then the response from the vast majority should certainly let him know how valued he is among the Bolton fanbase.

The defender’s name was sung right the way through the warm-ups and at regular intervals throughout the game – and he responded with one of his best 90 minutes in a Bolton shirt.

Just six minutes in he played a ball with perfect weight to find Szabi Schon on the left wing, the Hungarian taking it in his path without breaking stride and stroking a ball for McAtee, who scored for the second game running to make it the perfect start.

Kyle Dempsey flashed a shot inches wide of the post moments later as Bolton’s defenders – in this case George Johnston – continued to keep the pressure on with some great distribution from the back.

The slippery surface made for some teeth-clenching moments, George Thomason had a day to forget at this very ground last season, and he clattered into a challenge on Akin Odimayo midway through the half that had the home fan screaming for a repeat red card.

He got a yellow – and the same leniency was shown to Schon when he went overboard with a challenge on Mitch Pinnock. To his credit, the Northampton wide man’s reaction may have convinced ref Matt Corlett that a booking was sufficient.

Wanderers were again cutting down on the passes, a sensible move in the circumstances, but the direct approach is starting to suit them. The second goal was as simple a chipped pass as you’d like from Josh Sheehan to find Thomason dashing through the middle, but the captain’s lob over the on-rushing Lee Burge had to be exact, and it was.

Toal had a decent headed chance to make it three, getting up on a free kick from Sheehan, but the home side finished the half strongly, Tyler Roberts bringing a fine save out of Nathan Baxter with a stinging left-footed effort.

Northampton searched desperately for a route back into the game at the start of the second half and put some pressure on the Wanderers goal. Baxter had to clear awkwardly a couple of times on the edge of his area and former Bolton loanee Luke Mbete also flashed a dangerous cross in from the left, sparking a moment of panic.

But Bolton soon regained control, and after Dempsey had arrowed one effort just wide and both Schon and Johnston went close, it was Toal who made the game safe, pouncing on the loose ball after a scramble at a corner.

Wanderers swapped their front two, bringing on Charles and Adeboyejo for the final 20 minutes, but the fizz had gone from the hosts. Mbete then picked up a nasty-looking injury in a collision with Thomason which left him needing a stretched, which further calmed the contest and meant that Evatt could start planning ahead for Shrewsbury on Saturday.

Of course, Charles was not going to let anyone take the headlines without a fight. And with 10 minutes to go he produced another goal that shows he might be edging back to his very best.

Fellow sub Randell Williams played the ball into the channel, Charles sprinting on to it and outstripping his marker Guthrie before driving an angled shot past Burge in front of the 633 squadron in the Persimmon Stand.

Charles fancied a second after bursting down the right moments later, and Scott Arfield was definitely better placed for a cut-back when the striker tried to beat Burge at his near post.

Seven minutes of added time was flashed up by the fourth official, and the travelling fans were calling for a fifth. Instead, the Cobblers found a way of making stoppage time feel uncomfortable.

Bolton old boy Tom Eaves headed home their first, and Jon Guthrie did the same from a corner to leave the precious few home fans who had not filed out of the building wondering if they were about to see something special.

Sanity prevailed, thankfully, and Wanderers chalked up a third straight win for the first time in 2024.