Stockport boss Dave Challinor hailed his side’s emphatic response as they hit five past Wanderers at Edgeley Park.

The Hatters were thrashed by Wycombe in midweek but showed no signs of a hangover against the Whites.

“I expected a reaction, I didn’t expect the scoreline,” Challinor admitted. “You hope that there’s a performance there but ultimately, there is still uncertainty.

“As much as you can trust the players and believe in what they can go and do, they have to walk across the line, go out into the middle of the pitch and be able to produce that.

“I have just said to them, that is a lot easier to do at three and four up than it is at three or four down.

“But regardless of what the score is, we have to blank out everything going on around us and have that attitude and application.”

The hosts were aggressive in their pressing at times, which paid off when Louie Barry pounced on Jay Matete’s error to slot home.

“A press only works if you commit to it with everybody," the manager continued. “If one person goes by himself, they will be played around and look stupid.

“Everyone has got to go and commit to it, and Louie’s goal comes from a moment like that. Playing against a good team, at times you will get that slightly wrong.”

He added: “We wanted to be front foot. We knew that at times we would pretty much be man for man against a good Bolton team, so we would have to win a lot of those duels.”

Kyle Wootton was a nuisance for the Bolton backline and got on the scoresheet early in the second half.

“He is a focal point for us,” said Challinor. “Playing against Santos, there is a physical battle there. Watching England v Australia rugby union, it was more akin to that than football!

“The two of them wouldn’t be lost in a rugby match! He got his goal, which was a brilliant save and a brilliant finish.

“We did get him support, counter press well and pick up those second balls especially in the second half. But I thought our discipline in terms of our shape, when we had to be a block, was very good.

“We limited a very good team to minimal opportunities and situations, which is a credit to the players.”