WANDERERS (3-4-1-2).

 

JAMES TRAFFORD…7.

Considering the pressure he – arguably – put himself under by rushing out of goal and colliding with Coyle, the youngster showed some impressive gumption to carry on playing his game.

EOIN TOAL…8.5.

Genuinely impressive. Defended well when he had to and brought the ball out so confidently from the back, always looking to combine with Bradley.

RICARDO SANTOS…8.

Gets to lead a side out at Wembley. What a ride he has been on at Wanderers. Bailed his team out of a couple of sticky moments in front of goal.

LUKE MBETE…6.5.

Let nothing pass him by but does need more time with the team to be truly effective stepping out and linking up with the wing-back, in this case Declan John.

CONOR BRADLEY…8.

Shaded by fellow Northern Irishman Toal for man of the match. Accrington couldn’t cope with him in the first half. He just never stops going.

AARON MORLEY…7.5.

Produced another stunner for the cameras. Worked hard to get a proper foothold in the game but when Bolton played football, he was inevitably at the heart of it, especially after dropping deep.

JOSH SHEEHAN…7.

For the first half an hour he struggled to get any traction. Kept going and showed some really clever touches later in the game. Deserves his shot.

DECLAN JOHN…7.

Came into the game more after the break when there was more space to operate. Unlucky not to have grabbed the first goal after hitting the underside of the bar.

KIERAN LEE…7.

Knitted things together in Bolton’s best patches but should probably have helped himself to a goal.

ELIAS KACHUNGA…8.

Redemption. Has been through the mill, judged on his goal return, but his goal in the 82nd minute will go down in the club’s history books as a difference maker.

DION CHARLES…7.5.

Desperate to be the game-winner and should perhaps have opened the scoring in the first half. Never let his old club have a second’s peace.

Subs: Jones 6, 70 (for Mbete), R Williams 77 (for John), Isgrove 90 (for Bradley) Not used: Dixon, Thomason, Knhumbeni.

Accrington (3-5-2): Jensen; Fernandes, Rodgers, Sangare; Longelo, Coyle, Conneely, Leigh, McConville; Whalley, Pressley Subs: Martin 56 (for Coyle), Clark 75 (for Whalley), Woods 90 (for Leigh), Adekoya 90 (for Conneely), Mancini 90 (for Pressley).

Not used: Isherwood, Nolan.

Referee: Sam Barrott – 6/10.

McConville’s red card was silly, rather than malicious, as he dangled a foot in Bradley’s direction rather than took him out. And perhaps that did spoil the game as a contest.

Trafford’s incident with Coyle was definitely not a red. He made an attempt for the ball and it was an unfortunate collision but by producing the yellow the referee has added an air of uncertainty to it all.

It is a shame because other than that, the game was really well controlled.