Dapo Afolayan thanked his lucky stars for his first league goal of the season – but reckons Wanderers were well worth victory against Peterborough United.

The Bolton front man came off the bench to score an 86th minute winner, albeit with the aid of a wicked deflection off Posh defender Ronnie Edwards.

Afolayan had to wait for his chance on the day – and has not started a league game for the Whites since the 2-0 home defeat to Sheffield Wednesday on August 20.

Now, he hopes a bit of good fortune can help his chances of getting back into Ian Evatt’s starting line-up after the international break.

“I think I have scored better goals than that… but it’s good for the three points,” he said after the game. “The team deserved it, the boys were excellent.

“When I came on it felt like the game had become quite open. The lads at the back were having a right barney but I just wanted to get into it.

“I am a player who wants to be playing, I think I should be playing, but I have to be professional and keep my head down, work hard. I have used the time to work on myself, work on my game, and I said when I got my opportunity I had to take it.

“There was a bit of luck with the goal today but I am happy I got one.”

Afolayan is not the only player who has had to bide his time – and he reckons a glance at the Bolton bench on Saturday said a lot about the depth of squad currently available to Evatt.

“So to bring me, Jon, Sadlier and Baka off the bench shows we have got a strong squad and we are all contributing,” he said.

“We have a lot of good players in this squad. There are a few who are unlucky not to even be on the bench. There are lots of games in this season – one Tuesday, then others that will have to be rearranged now, so there will be chances and the manager will make the most of the squad.”

Wanderers sit in fifth place after nine games, however Afolayan believes the team has not yet hit its peak.

“It has been a decent start,” he said. “The gaffer said there was loads of room for improvement and I think the difference between us this year and last year is that even though there is that room, we are still winning games.

“As we keep getting better, hopefully that solidity and defensive consistency does as well and we will see where it takes us.”