Recent criticism of performances has been met with a degree of indignation within the Wanderers camp but now, finally, there may have been a reaction.

Dismissed as a soft touch in defeats against Cheltenham Town, Forest Green, Oxford United and Barnsley – hell, even 75 per cent of games they won against Accrington and Burton – Ian Evatt’s team seemed completely incapable of playing against type. And that was a major concern.

Wanderers could point to their solid defensive record, a league table that showed they were still firmly in contention for a play-off spot and claim with some weight to their argument that there had been an over-reaction to the inconsistent form of October and their exit from the FA Cup earlier this month.

They could not, until now, point to a recent 90-minute stint of football where the team had shown they could compete when they had to come away from Evatt’s normal plan of possession football. That nastiness, which runs through virtually every successful side, was nowhere to be seen.

Now a goalless draw against a team which has been floundering for form will not be viewed by everyone as a positive step. Indeed, Evatt and his players could still find criticism if they went looking for it on Saturday evening.

It seems unfair, however, to pile on with the gloom-mongering, having questioned the grit in this team so frequently, when they actually dig in for a result, especially with 10 men after the soft dismissal of Kyle Dempsey.

It is obvious Evatt has issues to solve. His attack, missing the poorly Jon Dadi Bodvarsson, is simply not firing as it should. Whether the personnel, the formation or both are to blame depends on who you ask, but the Bolton boss simply must find a way to finish off more chances before the New Year with the players he signed, or else once the January window reopens, surely, he will search for other options?

It is also fair to ask whether Evatt’s own touchline histrionics, visible from the sixth minute onward at the Abbey Stadium, are doing more harm than good.

The performance of referee Darren Drysdale will be discussed a little later, and was very much open to examination, but one wonders whether the constant drama in the technical area is working against the Bolton boss and his players at the moment?

Wanderers are not always the most demonstrative of teams, their passion at times can be questioned. Sometimes Evatt’s barracking feels necessary, if only to cajole others, but in the last couple of games it has gone overboard.

That all said, Bolton had no such issues at Cambridge – giving just as good as they got, defending their penalty area well against a stream of long throws and set pieces, and most importantly, picking up more of the second balls in midfield than they had in their previous game against Barnsley.

Little of the goalmouth action in the first half came from close range. Jack Lankester fizzed a shot just past the post for the U’s, Jack Iredale did the same for Bolton – nearly capping his return to his former club in the perfect way.

Elias Kachunga also broke off a hugely entertaining 45-minute grappling match with the home defence to lash a volley just over the bar.

Wanderers’ composure was being tested by a canny, wily home attack. Referee Drysdale seemed to go to his pocket to punish each and every misdemeanour with a yellow card. Dempsey fully deserved his first booking, a late lunge on Lankester, but the inconsistency shown with others made for a hugely frustrating afternoon.

Charles could have helped things calm down by getting over his snap-shot, the ball having bounced favourably when Conor Bradley’s shot was blocked.

Gethin Jones will also look back at the moment an Aaron Morley corner dropped to him eight yards out, the defender’s shot skewed wide of the post with the goal begging.

The game continued to operate at a frantic pace, Bolton foregoing any careful build up and playing more direct in an effort to stop Cambridge pressing in midfield. It wasn’t as pretty as we have come to expect but there were signs that Mark Bonner’s side were slowing down when Drysdale’s biggest decision arrived.

Dempsey had spent his day chasing and harrying, and in trying to stop a counter-attack he stepped across Harvey Knibbs’ run, sending him tumbling to the floor. Suffice it to say, Drysdale knew where his cards were kept.

Evatt had introduced Dapo Afolayan only three minutes before Dempsey disappeared back down the tunnel. He would have been confident that some extra energy from the bench would have had a positive effect on the game. Instead, the red card put wind in Cambridge’s sails, and they pushed forward looking for the win.

Aaron Morley blasted one effort just wide but otherwise Bolton were defending for their lives. Thankfully, they have in their midst a goalkeeper at the top of his game.

James Trafford had been clattered in the first half by big defender Lloyd Jones who, despite already being on a yellow card, was somehow excused by Drysdale for a second. He hadn’t moved well for a while thanks to a dead leg but still made a couple of smart saves to keep his eighth clean sheet of the season intact.

Wanderers were by no means clinging on. Cambridge offered them some respect by maintaining their 4-2-3-1 structure and ensuring they were not countered at the death.

But throughout the game the long throws of Lewis Simper, aided by an omnipresent towel, had given Ricardo Santos and Co something to occupy their mind. And in the last of five added minutes of time, a final missile was launched, sub Sam Smith and Knibbs both seized on a ball played back into the box but somehow Trafford managed to get something in the way. It proved the last touch of the game.

A point won’t satisfy those who feel Evatt and his squad are underperforming, nor will the fact they managed just one shot on target. It stands to reason that their attacking returns must improve if the Whites are to stand any chance of staying in the play-off picture.

Though flawed, the performance did have one thing – resilience. And on such qualities success can be built, confidence garnered, points taken.

Of course, any good work Bolton achieved could be thrown into the sea at Fleetwood next weekend. But this might just be the moment this team dug in its heels and decided to fight back again.