FOR all the talk of assists of late, we didn’t expect one from Boundary Park.

It said it all that as Wanderers’ players trudged exhaustedly back down the tunnel after defeat, their fans were still chanting: “We are going up!”

Oldham’s impressive and rather unexpected win over Fleetwood 84 miles away had changed the landscape of what was, in truth, a fairly ordinary performance from Phil Parkinson’s side.

At any other stage of the season the reasons behind the result would have been examined more thoroughly but at this stage in the campaign details seem trivial.

The equation is now startlingly straightforward; two wins and we can look forward to Championship football next season. By Good Friday it might have simplified even further but surely we daren’t dream that Fleetwood can trip up again, and also be followed by Bradford?

Credit to Scunthorpe, whose own automatic promotion push had burst into flames spectacularly since the New Year. A run of just two wins in 13 hardly screamed play-off contender yet their defending around the penalty box was exemplary and counter-attacking good to watch. David Mirfin’s header 11 minutes in proved the winning goal. Wanderers’ marking could certainly be faulted but no so their effort in trying to level the scores for the 80-odd minutes that followed.

A combination of warm weather and the midweek trip to Southend clearly took its toll on some. Considering we are 42 games into a slobber-knocker of a season, that is only to be expected.

Phil Parkinson does have one problem to solve, however, if he is going to find the six points which would see the promotion push over the line. Without Gary Madine in the line-up Wanderers simply don’t look as effective, and try as he might, Conor Wilkinson has not yet proven an effective replacement.

After Madine’s shoulder injury ruled him out of the game at Glanford Park most considered the spare place up front to be a straight toss-up between Max Clayton and Chris Long.

Wilkinson had featured from the start just once before, playing just over an hour of the 2-0 defeat against Sheffield United in February.

Parkinson said the 22-year-old had earned his place via performances for the development squad and in training – and who are we to argue – but after Saturday it is difficult to believe he is not considering a different alternative.

The former Millwall striker has the tools to be a target man and has done reasonably well in loan spells in Leagues One and Two in his career. He is yet to translate that promise to first team level in his opportunities thus far at Bolton, however.

Wanderers had travelled to Lincolnshire on the same coach used by Premier League champions Leicester City. And for the first 20 minutes at Glanford Park they appeared to be suffering from the same hangover which affected the Foxes through most of this season.

Mirfin took advantage of some poor marking to head Josh Morris’s free kick past Mark Howard and Scunthorpe looked capable of scoring more, their diamond midfield shape causing more than a few issues.

Wanderers did get a foothold eventually. Wilkinson should have brought them level when Adam Le Fondre presented him with a good chance at the near post, stabbing his shot into the side netting.

As always, Filipe Morais’s set pieces were a threat. Dorian Dervite and David Wheater went close, and Wilkinson had another header skim off goalscorer Mirfin and just over the bar.

Dean Moxey also shaved the post with a left-footed blast from the edge of the box.

Morais continued to look the best option on the right, regularly getting beyond Iron full-back Connor Townsend but the support from midfield was noticeably absent.

James Henry changed all that from the bench, his introduction from the bench with Max Clayton injecting a dose of energy.

The on-loan Wolves midfielder tested Joe Anyon within a minute and made a very good case for himself to start next weekend at Oldham.

Clayton also showed some good touches – forcing Anyon into an incredible save on his own goal-line with a header from Morais’ corner.

If Parkinson was not in contract with results elsewhere, the demeanour of the travelling fans probably gave him a big hint that things were going well. Fleetwood were two down.

Scunthorpe remained a threat on the break and Dervite’s calm head was needed on a few occasions.

David Wheater was sent up as an emergency target man as Wanderers’ desperation to get back into the game grew.

For the second successive weekend a Madine-less Whites had drawn a blank but no harm was done to their overall promotion push. They need to take control in the next eight days in two local derbies to see this thing over the line. Then can we join in with travelling fans and celebrate.