WANDERERS gave a masterclass in counter punching at Stevenage to roar back into the top six.

Despite absorbing plenty of pressure at the Lamex Stadium, Ian Evatt’s side held steady and produced some ruthless finishing to win by a distance.

First-half goals from Ricardo Santos and John McAtee were followed by another two from Victor Adeboyejo and Dion Charles, Bolton producing the sort of incisiveness in front of goal that they had lacked for long spells at the weekend against Peterborough United.

For the first time since April Evatt named an unchanged line-up, meaning top-scorer Dion Charles continued on the bench, with John McAtee and Aaron Collins playing in behind Victor Adeboyejo up top.

Both Wanderers and Stevenage have won every single game in which they have led this season, so the first goal was statistically more important than ever. For the Whites to claim it after only 13 minutes was a blessing from above.

Ricardo Santos often looks imperious in the air when defending but one of the obvious gaps in his game is that he does not translate that to the opposition penalty box. But fresh from an outstanding performance against his former employers, he powered home a header past Taye Ashby-Hammond to give his side the perfect start.

Stevenage had looked well up for it from the start, playing at a frantic pace, their plan to pepper the penalty box with crosses and take maximum advantage of any attacking set pieces of their own was clear.

Wanderers had to play passing football in fleeting pockets, whenever the ball could be brought down in a midfield of flying boots and elbows. Josh Sheehan and Jay Matete had to think quickly whenever they got a yard to operate but both showed some intelligent touches in amongst the noise.

On 20 minutes, McAtee and Matete combined to win a free kick on the left edge of the box, and once again Bolton were able to give Stevenage a taste of their own medicine.

Sheehan’s free kick was headed to the edge of the box, McAtee connecting with a perfect bouncing volley and the ball dropping just out of the goalkeeper’s reach to send Bolton’s travelling support ecstatic.

Only Tranmere Rovers and Swansea City had scored fewer goals in their opening 13 games across the EFL than Alex Revell’s side but despite falling behind they continued to exert pressure on the Wanderers goal.

Luke Southwood did not have any meaningful saves to make but that is not to say that Wanderers could rest easily. In fact, they were on the back foot until half time, aside from the odd break from the back.

On the half hour, Eoin Toal raced back to see the ball out of play, only to pull up clutching the back of his leg. He limped off, to be replaced by Will Forrester – himself only a couple of weeks back from injury.

Holding firm against territorial pressure from the home side, Wanderers had a few half-chances to kill the game off completely before half time.

Szabi Schon passed on a chance to shoot first time after Matete, Sheehan and McAtee had combined well on the right, and Adeboyejo also got a final pass wrong when he could have put McAtee through. They had the lead but there was no question they were going to have to work hard to hold on to it.

Stevenage continued to push hard at the start of the second half but the defending from Wanderers was exemplary. Forrester got to the pace of the game quickly, and he, Santos and Johnston produced some brave moments to ensure Southwood was still not called into action by the hour mark.

Carl Piergianni’s tame header was the only effort the home side had put on target by the time Adeboyejo made it three.

Pinned back for the majority of the half, Wanderers burst forward with pace as Matete and McAtee sent Schon hurtling down the left, and when he cross bounced awkwardly off Wildin, Adeboyejo was only too happy to put his right boot through the ball and send it crashing into the net.

Even then, Stevenage refused to lie down. And nine minutes after the game looked to have escaped them completely, they once again made it awkward by pulling a goal back.

With the penalty box packed once again, Jamie Reid brought a save out of Southwood, but for the first time in the game there was no Bolton player picking up the scraps. Dan Kemp followed up, and his shot brought some renewed hope to the home fans.

Evatt, back on the touchline after his three-game ban, was shouting himself hoarse, trying to keep the defensive concentration up. But he finally got a chance to relax two minutes from time when another perfectly executed break finished with Dacres-Cogley playing in a perfect ball for sub Charles, who got just enough on his prod at goal to force it past the keeper.

Their team’s resolve finally broken, Stevenage fans headed for the exits leaving 600-or-so Boltonians asking if there had been a fire drill.

Well, no, there hadn’t. But Wanderers are certainly showing signs that they are warming up this season. Maybe the alarm bells did go off too soon?