WANDERERS’ stomach had been questioned at Grimsby days earlier – but the men in white stood tall against an aerial onslaught from Carlisle to seal a huge three points in their promotion chase. 

Eoin Doyle’s 18th goal of the season was enough to win it for the Whites but after they failed to turn early dominance into a second and make life more comfortable, fans were once again left chewing nails to the quick as the Cumbrians piled on the pressure late on in search of an equaliser. 

After much discussion on whether he would make changes after the weekend, boss Ian Evatt surprised many by sticking with the same line-up. 

The show of faith would prove the correct decision. And it was Doyle, one of the players whose recent form had been most debated, who would provide the crucial opening goal. 

Dapo Afolayan made an electric start to the game, revelling any time he saw green grass ahead of him. The West Ham loanee is itching to score his first for Bolton and will never get closer after surging down the left and rattling the post with a powerful shot. Thankfully, Doyle, the poacher supreme, was on hand to bury the rebound. 

Bolton’s top scorer could rightly claim he was due some luck having seen an earlier header cleared off the line by substitute Nick Anderton. 

Lloyd Isgrove was also excelling in the acres of space on the right alongside Gethin Jones, and the winger came close to finishing off a brilliant move a few moments after the goal which summed up Bolton at their best.  

Carlisle’s approach was just as uncomplicated as Grimsby’s had been at the weekend. From minute one they showed their strengths at set pieces, the leaps from Josh Kayode, the monstrous clearances from keeper Paul Farman, the missile-like long throws from either flank. 

And though the Cumbrians lacked guile when they played their way around the penalty box, they were certainly not lacking in commitment once the ball got into the danger areas. 

Early on, George Thomason missed his header from Callum Guy’s corner and Omari Patrick was thankfully caught by surprise as the ball bounced off his chest and wide of the goal. 

Lewis Alessandra also brought an early save out of Matt Gilks after a loose pass on the Bolton right. 

Every ball pumped into the Wanderers box was a test for Ricardo Santos and Alex Baptiste, who had a rare off-day at Blundell Park but looked determined to make amends on such an important night. 

There were a few nervous moments – with Santos getting in one tangle in front of his own goal that would have had iFollow viewers diving behind the sofa – but the lead was preserved. 

Wanderers had perhaps deserved a second, such had been the quality of their football in open play, but not for the first time this season we were left looking at a one-goal lead on the scoreboard as the Carlisle players jogged back into the hotel at half time. 

There was no let up on the pace in the second half. Wanderers continued to show the greater enterprise in attack but the structure of their football was nowhere near as precise. 

Time and time again the danger man Afolayan was chopped down, with Evatt becoming increasingly animated in the technical area every time the youngster was sent to the deck. 

Isgrove continued to be a threat too, drawing a round of applause from the whole stadium after controlling a 50-yard switch pass from Thomason to bring the ball down on the touchline and swing in a cross. 

Wanderers were forced into a change when Declan John went down clutching his hamstring, replaced by Harry Brockbank. 

The Welshman looked in pain as he limped slowly around the pitch and back down the tunnel, and his involvement in the rest of the campaign must now be in doubt. 

As the clock ticked past the 70-minute mark, the lead felt thinner than ever. 

Gilks had to make a scrambling save at the foot of his post after a cross somehow found its way to Alessandra, and Patrick squeezed a shot through three defenders which rolled inches wide. 

Corner after corner rained in on the Bolton box. Carlisle, who have scored more goals from set pieces than anyone else in League Two, clearly fancied themselves to get back into the game, by hook or by crook. 

Jack Armer and Aaron Hayden connected with corners but could not test Gilks further. This was turning into Salford, mark two. 

Carlisle threw everything they possibly could into the Wanderers box but this was a night where Baptiste’s magnetic head came in especially useful. 

As the fourth official showed four minutes of added time, even keeper Farman ventured up for a series of corners, conjuring images of Jimmy Glass, and all that. 

Time and time again the ball was pumped into the penalty box. Gilks went up to challenge for a high ball, hitting the deck after a barge from Jon Mellish. With no substitute on the bench, for just a few moments it seemed the Whites would have to play the final 60 seconds with an outfielder in goal.  

Thankfully, Gilks stood up. He was still receiving treatment after the final whistle – but that blissful sound signalled three important points. It was time to breathe again. At least until Morecambe on Saturday.