“FOOTBALL is all about showing your strengths and hiding your deficiencies,” reasoned Ian Evatt in the build-up to a game which felt pivotal, even in this early stage of the League One season.

We had talked about the deficiencies; Oh, how we had talked. We had questioned whether Bolton had dropped the ball by not further adding to their squad on deadline day, if this team really had the bottle to beat the ‘big dogs’ and whether that would affect the well-aired target of automatic promotion this season.

But perhaps not enough credit was given to the manager and his team for the occasions when they do indeed show their strengths, just as they did against Derby, a side considered by most to be favourites for a top two spot.

You may be tempted to note that the Rams finished with 10 men, goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith receiving a straight red card for handling Dion Charles’s shot outside his penalty area, and wonder whether that was the deciding factor in the game. The truth, however, is that Bolton had been dominant to that stage with an equal number of men, this being by far their most convincing performance of the campaign.

With Josh Sheehan flitting between midfield spaces, knitting possession patterns and leaving marker Korey Smith fruitlessly chasing his shadow and Eoin Toal not missing a beat on his return to league duties after injury, there was a lot to admire, even with the game level at half time.

Derby had taken the lead from the penalty spot, Conor Hourihane slotting home after Victor Adeboyejo had bundled down Callum Elder at a corner. The goal had arrived very much against the run of play and asked serious questions of the team’s mentality after a difficult fortnight in the aftermath of that pounding against Wigan.

It also asked something of the crowd, totally just over 21,000. The draw at Burton and the cup exit against Middlesbrough had opened the door for critics to linger, to hammer home their points made after that dire derby. This was one of those rewarding occasions where the supporters truly played their part, recognising the relative injustice of being behind, they instantly rallied and ensured that Bolton’s players did not sulk, or lose their edge.

Nine minutes later, Sheehan was tripped just inside the penalty box chasing on to a cut-back cross from Josh Dacres-Cogley, and referee Charles Breakspear pointed to the spot once again, with Dion Charles doing the honours with his fifth goal of the season.

Paul Warne spent last season remoulding Derby in Rotherham’s image, and you can see with their well-drilled set piece routines, their boundless energy, their physicality at either end of the pitch, that they have all the tools to follow his former club into the Championship, alongside the fanbase, finance and facilities to stay there.

Bolton’s approach could not be more different. Where there is one pass to be played, Evatt’s team can often play three – but if you hang around for the moments of incision, craft and guile, they are really worth watching.

Wildsmith’s red card occurred three minutes after the restart and was the right call. He had been left stranded by a mistake from Sonny Bradley and though he did enough to stop Adeboyejo dancing around him, Charles’s follow-up volley was pushed away a good six yards outside the box and looked destined for the net. After a brief chat with his linesman, Breakspear reached for his red and the dynamics of the game changed completely.

Derby tried to batten down the hatches. Wanderers have suffered against such defensive opponents before and their build-up did, at times, labour a little. In 17 minutes of passing and probing, crackles of discontent and frustration began to surface, but then a moment of good fortune gave the Whites the break for which they had been searching.

Virtually every time Bolton got the ball in a wide position, folk screamed for a cross to come next. Whether that was logical against a deep-lying, six-foot plus defence is another matter altogether.

Dacres-Cogley broke rank with a rather speculative centre which nicked off defender Tyrese Fornah and floated over a helpless Josh Vickers into the net.

If there is a criticism to be made of Bolton from there on in it is that they did not really test the Derby goal further in the final 20 minutes to make the game completely safe. Buoyed by the fact they were still within touching distance the Rams threw everything forward, including their replacement keeper, in the final stages to make things more nervous than they had any right to be.

For a few panicky minutes you could hear the knives being sharpened again. And then the blessed sound of Breakspear’s final whistle.

Aside from those chaotic final few long throws and free-kicks, it was impossible to make a case for Derby to take anything from the game. Wanderers were worthy winners and considering the long discussions and column inches that have been filled in the last two weeks, dwelling on any negatives would be unfair in the extreme.

This team isn’t perfect, it does have a weakness. If it can hide it from a strong team like Derby, though, then why can’t it go on from here and stay in contention for an automatic spot until May?

There will be tests – and one hopes that the squad can stay relatively injury free to January at the very least – but with a fair wind Bolton have now shown that they really can mix it with the best of them, and long may that continue.