WANDERERS snatched a dramatic third victory on the spin in League One thanks to sub Dapo Afolayan’s deflected effort.

Ian Evatt’s side had dominated the final hour of an absorbing contest against one of the division’s heaviest hitters but looked like they would have to be content with a draw after missing a succession of opportunities.

Enter Afolayan, who certainly got a slice of luck when his drive cannoned off a Posh defender and past the stranded keeper in the 86th minute, but a piece of fortune that the Whites truly deserved on the day.

Peterborough have now lost their last six games in all competitions and have never won a game at Bolton.

Pressure slowly built over the course of the first half, with few real chances.

The visitors – tough and uncompromising – flashed a few good balls across the six-yard box but got in behind Bolton on just one occasion when Jonson Clarke-Harris was played through the middle and James Trafford had to race from his area to make a fine clearance.

Wanderers’ attack increased in potency as the half wore on and they were able to pick holes in a highly effective press.

Conor Bradley got in behind Harrison Burrows and was picked out by Dion Charles, but the Liverpool youngster could only blast his shot high over the bar.

The Whites maintained their siege on the Posh goal and Gethin Jones hit the woodwork with a powerful header from Jack Iredale’s cross, keeper Lucas Bergstrom beaten.

Frustration started to surface on both sides as referee Carl Brook began to lose some control on the game. George Johnston was perhaps fortunate to escape punishment after wrestling Ben Thompson to the ground in a corner melee but Peterborough’s dark arts were also being picked up by the home crowd, who booed the officials back down the tunnel at half time.

Wanderers continued to push for the opening goal after the game restarted, Bergstrom made a fine save at close range from Bradley and then another to tip over Charles’s powerful effort from distance.

Kyle Dempsey, back in the side for Kieran Lee, also dwelled on a chance to shoot from close in, allowing Peterborough to clear the danger.

Bolton were by that stage enjoying significant territorial advantage but their lack of composure close to goal was – not for the first time this season – proving a problem. Just after the hour mark, Jones sent a cross skimming into the penalty box which fell nicely for Charles, who lost his balance at the crucial moment.

Evatt brought on Dapo Afolayan and Jon Dadi Bodvarsson to sharpen up the attack in the last 20 minutes, but while the neat build-up and hard graft continued, it did so without the pay-off of a finishing touch.

Bodvarsson got himself into one excellent position on the right only to under-hit his pull-back to Bradley and as the minutes ticked down, it seemed a point would be all Bolton got for their relentless work.

But then, almost out of the blue, Trafford’s long punt was cleared into the path of sub Afolayan, who drove forward to hit a low shot, which took a heavy deflection to wrong-foot Bergstrom and bounce into the empty net.

It was no more than Bolton’s effort had deserved but they still had a few minutes to hold out and ensure Afolayan’s goal was decisive.

They might have made a late break count, when four players broke on two Posh defenders, but Bakayoko’s final pass was over-hit.