WANDERERS never promised a spending spree on the final day of the transfer window – but their inactivity could turn up the pressure to perform in today’s big game against Derby County.

Ian Evatt’s side could go top of League One with a victory against the Rams, who were the bookmakers’ pre-season favourites for promotion and currently sit eighth in the table.

The team has taken 10 points from the first five games and showed up well against Championship Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night after making several changes to the line-up.

Nevertheless, there has been a slightly unsettled mood around the fanbase of late, stemming from the derby defeat against Wigan Athletic a fortnight ago.

That vibe did not improve after a fruitless deadline day on which Kieran Sadlier’s release and Declan John’s loan move to Salford City were late highlights in a largely uneventful day.

Wanderers had gone into the day with the intention of signing a goalkeeper if scans showed that Joel Coleman stood to miss an extended period of football with a calf injury. That they were not active on the day is possibly evidence to suggest his absence will not be a long one, and youngster Luke Hutchinson has now been recalled from a loan spell with Hyde United.

Many supporters had hoped Bolton’s low-key approach to the final few days of the window was a rouse to cover some late business. In the end, the exits of Sadlier and John left the squad looking slim in some areas.

Sadlier had his contract cancelled, presumably to facilitate a move to Leyton Orient, who had pushed in front of Lincoln City and Cambridge United on the day as favourites to sign him.

The winger scored nine times in 46 appearances for the Whites but struggled to find a niche in Evatt’s side, particularly after the formation change at the start of last season to 3-4-1-2.

John signed a six-month deal with League Two Salford, effectively ending his two-and-a-half-year spell with Bolton which took in 92 appearances and yielded six goals.

The Welsh wing-back had helped Bolton out of League Two but had recently fallen behind Randell Williams and Zac Ashworth, failing to make a single appearance this season.