WANDERERS wrapped up a pleasing league double against Ipswich Town to register their first league win of 2022.

Second-half goals from Kieran Lee and Dapo Afolayan were enough to seal only a third win in 14 games, easing some of the frustration which had been building around the UniBol.

Wanderers made four changes to the side, handing debuts to James Trafford in goal and Aaron Morley in midfield. They also shifted formation, with Gethin Jones coming back for his first start since October as a third centre-back and Amadou Bakayoko partnering Dion Charles up front.

Dapo Afolayan was dropped to the bench for a league game for the first time this season – his last sub appearance having come in defeat to Newport County back in April.

The early exchanges were nervous for Bolton, and not least their new loan keeper Trafford. The Manchester City man caused a few sharp intakes of breath around the UniBol with some risky passes exchanged in the penalty box.

But he settled after making a decent save from Sone Aluko, the confidence then spreading throughout the Bolton side for the rest of the half.

Charles got the fans going with an early header from Kieran Lee’s cross, and moments later Wanderers nearly got it right from a set piece as Morley’s short corner routine fashioned a chance headed wide by George Johnston.

Both sides were offering up chances with mistakes in possession, and it was from a quick transition that Ipswich created their best chance of the half, Lee Evans blasting a shot from the edge of the box, dealt with well by Trafford.

As the half drew to a close, Declan John spun out of two challenges on the left to play a ball through for Charles – the Northern Ireland international doing well to get a shot on target from an angle but failing to beat Christian Walton.

The Tractor Boys keeper was perhaps lucky to escape with a yellow card moments later when he carried the ball out of the area, sliding to block Charles’s path.

And Bolton could have snatched the lead when Edmundson’s poor header landed at the feet of Lee 12 years out but the midfielder couldn’t get a shot away.

The Whites were finishing with a flourish and Bakayoko was a matter of millimetres away from turning in John’s cross of the stroke of half time after another fine switch pass from Santos.

Strangely, Bolton surrendered more possession in the second half and arguably came under more territorial pressure but – for once this season – they stayed composed and took their chances to win the game.

Aluko went close a few minutes after the restart, curling a shot just wide from the edge of the area, Santos also had to be alert to make a fine block from the former Reading and Fulham man.

Having absorbed some pressure, Bolton finally snatched a chance to take the lead, Lee poking home from eight yards out after Morley’s initial shot had been saved by Walton.

Afolayan – by then on for Charles – scored his first league goal since October, seizing on a poor pass from Edmundson to drill past Walton.

Ipswich had a few half-chances to try and get back into it – Luke Woolfenden heading straight at Trafford from close range. The Manchester City stopper also showed some guts to dive at Macauley Bonne’s feet as he looked to pounce on Wes Burns’s right-wing cross.

But Wanderers deserved the points with what was their most organised and clinical performance for some time.