Ian Evatt saluted a job well done in the opening group game of the EFL Trophy.

Carlos Mendes Gomes, Ricardo Santos and Aaron Morley scored in a comfortable win against Salford City as the club began their defence of the competition they won at Wembley just five months ago.

Evatt named a strong side which created plenty of chances against their League Two opponents – and while the quality of finishing did not always match up to the quality of the build-up the Bolton boss was pleased with the end result.

“It was a good start, we ask the players to start fast in every game because we know if we can get the first goal then it sets it up for us,” he said of Mendes Gomes’s strike after just 54 seconds. “We got one, then two, there was lots of good stuff, some final third details we can improve on but we can’t really argue when you win 3-0 and Ricardo Santos scores. It’s a rarity in itself.

“I would have liked more goals but that seems to be the way this season, we get to three and the handbrake goes on. I can feel there is more in us.”

Wanderers gave a debut to summer signing Luke Matheson as a second-half substitute, and the former Wolves and Rochdale man left a good impression on his new manager.

“I’ m delighted for young Luke, he is obviously on a recovery mission with his career which was slightly halted at Wolves. He had to face a bit of adversity, he came here and bought into what we are trying to do.

“Matt Craddock has done great with him and we are seeing some really promising signs. When he came on he did really well.”

Although Wanderers were without international stars like Dion Charles, Eoin Toal, Josh Sheehan and Zac Ashworth, Evatt made minimal changes to the team that beat Derby County at the weekend.

“It is the plan when you have a free weekend – we were obviously able to give them some minutes and then time off,” he explained. “To be honest, we have a really strong squad of players. We were depleted with the internationals being unavailable but we made changes and the team didn’t get much weaker at all, so I am really pleased. We can have a few days off now and then get ready for Reading.”

Evatt was happy to see Mendes Gomes score his first goal for the Whites since his summer move from Luton Town – a powerful effort after less than a minute.

But he added that there was a downside to the midfielder’s promising performance.

“He strikes a really good ball and the players were saying how much the shot moved, so it will be great to watch that back and see it,” he said. “That is why we have brought him in, he has that X factor in the final third – and the only slight negative of tonight is that he picked up a slight hamstring strain.”