A FIRST box ticked in a season which could yet end as an all-time classic, the lure of a second trip to Wembley now lingering tantalisingly on the horizon.

Twelve months ago, Ian Evatt stood in front of a room full of supporters at the end-of-season awards and stated that he would take Bolton Wanderers into the play-offs. That promise has now been kept but anyone who has tracked how this ambitious young manager works over the past three years will know it doesn’t end there.

A comfortable victory against Fleetwood on Saturday means there will be no last-day nerves at Bristol Rovers next weekend. Only the matter of fifth or sixth place is to be decided, and whether that will pit the Whites against Sheffield Wednesday or Barnsley.

It is 22 years since Bolton have been involved in a play-off and many who stayed behind to applaud their modern heroes off the pitch will have been there at the Millennium Stadium on the day Sam Allardyce launched the Premier League era. A generation of supporters will not have experienced the unique pressures of a two-legged semi-final, however, and how it makes a mockery of form and the league placings that had gone before.

Wanderers may be 15 points behind Wednesday, who ran out of steam to be pipped by excellent Plymouth Argyle and Ipswich Town teams to the automatic spot, but now the reset button has been pressed and all teams rendered equal once more. Evatt’s team now has a genuine chance of reaching the Championship and have the benefit of having delivered under intense pressure already this season.

Given that only a few nights earlier, defeat against Accrington had provoked a negative response that even caught some of the club’s seasoned veterans by surprise, the response against Fleetwood was remarkable.

This team and its constituents seem destined to have their limitations discussed at length each time a poor result or performance comes along. Though that may be a by-product of a huge fanbase with weighty expectations and a rich history of playing at the top level of the game, there have been occasions this season when the criticism has been viewed as unjust inside the dressing room.

Evatt has himself risen to the bait on occasion. Still only five years into his managerial career, he is yet to develop that rhino-thick skin and takes some of the more outlandish views and comments to heart.

Yet the extraordinary thing about this group of players and their leader is that they have continually found a way past that negativity, finding answers to every question put their way.

For an example you only need look at Elias Kachunga, a player derided at times for his lack of goals as an attacking player, but who seems to draw deep and produce big performances in the truly important games.

Instrumental in the win against Plymouth at Wembley, just as he had been in the semi-final against Accrington Stanley, Kacha’s experience at the business end of a season will be so important to this young squad over the coming weeks.

His pressure from Randell Williams’ corner in the 18th minute prompted Promise Omochere to put the ball in his own net, shortly before the heavens started to fall in Horwich, spoiling the game as a football contest for the most part.

Fleetwood’s threat only faded once they were reduced to 10 men in the second half. Jayden Stockley got himself involved with MJ Williams – pulling the midfielder’s hair, of all things – and after a second altercation was reported to referee Ben Speedie by fourth official Grant Taylor, and a red card issued.

It was a daft way to go and gave licence to Bolton to do what they do best, spread out possession, open up spaces, and inevitably create chances.

Kyle Dempsey doubled the lead from close range after Williams’ cross bounced fortuitously off Brendan Wiredu. Given his journey in the last 12 months, the Wanderers midfielder is another excellent example of resilience in this strong-minded squad.

Spurred by Kachunga’s industry and Conor Bradley’s never-ending work with Gethin Jones down the right, Wanderers might have helped themselves to more. Dion Charles had one goal scrubbed out by the linesman, a handful of goal-bound efforts were blocked close in by Fleetwood’s retreating defences. And as the sun peeked out from behind the clouds again, only a goal for Peterborough against Bristol Rovers could have spoiled the mood.

As it happened, several minutes after the final whistle at Bolton, a goalless draw at London Road was confirmed and a play-off position guaranteed at last.

Party planners at the-end-season awards night might have breathed a sigh of relief, for the mood inside the Premier Suite was understandably buoyant.

Once again Evatt took to the stage to thank the fans, his staff, his players and the board for their backing, concluding his speech with another promise: To get Bolton back into the Championship.

Knowing what we know about his record on delivering those pledges, who would possibly doubt him?

Asked if he would lift the Papa Johns Trophy one more time on Saturday night, Evatt declined.

“I’ve got another trophy I want to lift at Wembley,” he added. “I’ll save it for then.”