Gordon, Thomason, Isgrove - Five ups and two downs from Bolton Wanderers' win over Doncaster

A look at the positives and negatives from a Wanderers perspective against Donny in League One

Bolton Wanderers returned to winning ways last night in League One with a convincing 3-0 win over Doncaster Rovers.

After some early scares from the visitors, Eoin Doyle put Bolton ahead after the half-hour mark, before Donny were reduced to 10 men when Joe Olowu was shown a straight red card for a poor challenge on Dapo Afolayan.

Elias Kachunga put Wanderers two goals to the good before half-time, while George Thomason's deflected effort added a third after the break and cap off a 3-0 victory.

READ MORE: Bolton boss Ian Evatt on Doncaster win, red card and update on Isgrove and Williams injuries

Amid the current injury crisis at Wanderers, the three points were all the more important as the club moved up to 11th in the League One table and go into this Saturday's clash at home to Cheltenham Town.

Reflecting on last night's win, we take a look at the ups and downs from the victory from a Wanderers perspective.

Ups

Gordon excels at right-back

There was surprise when the team news arrived at 7pm to see both Liam Gordon and Declan John in the starting team.

Some thought that both would line up on the left, with one in a more advanced role than the other.

But as things turned out, Gordon lined up at right-back and the youngster impressed in a man of the match performance from the position.

With Gethin Jones out injured and the potential of Lloyd Isgrove out for a time too now it seems, it's a timely and useful discovery for Ian Evatt.

Johnston comfortable in holding midfield

When Isgrove had to come off after the half-hour mark, George Johnston came on in place of the injured winger.

The central defender moved into the holding midfield role which has been left vacant with the injury berth left by Williams.

And the former Liverpool trainee looked comfortable in that position and seemed to add a bit more stability to the team in that role.

It was another interesting discovery and could fill a gap in the team while Williams is out.

Kachunga's best game in a Wanderers shirt

It has taken some time for Kachunga to find his feet at Bolton after joining on the eve of the new season starting.

He was restricted to substitute appearances in the early part of the campaign owing to a lack of full match fitness and how more recently been starting games from the start.

This month, Kachunga has started to find the back of the net and he notched his first league goal last night against Donny.

The former Sheffield Wednesday and Huddersfield Town man impressed last night in possibly his best game for Bolton so far, also teeing up Doyle for the opening goal.

Amaechi's encouraging cameo once again

Xavier Amaechi came on for half an hour after Wanderers went 3-0 up for his most minutes on the pitch so far for Wanderers.

He came on for Doyle after the striker's successful return from injury with Amaechi getting more minutes into his legs.

Wanderers are yet to see the best from Amaechi so far given his limited time on the pitch after overcoming a fractured metatarsal in pre-season.

But Amaechi is clearly going to be a player who will open doors for Wanderers as he demonstrated against Donny and he will aim to show more of the same going forwards.

Thomason runs the show and gets deserved goal

Thomason has had to bide his time to have an extended run in the Wanderers team this season owing to midfield competition.

But owing to the present injury crisis, Thomason has been granted his chance in the team and took it last night.

The youngster capped off an impressive and typically energetic performance in the middle of the park with a goal, albeit heavily deflected.

He was among the man of the match contenders against the Yorkshire side and will be aiming to replicate that performance against Cheltenham on Saturday.

Downs

Another injury

It never rains but it pours on the injury front for Bolton Wanderers.

Ian Evatt currently has Josh Sheehan, Williams, Jones, Harry Brockbank, Alex Baptiste, Amadou Bakayoko and Andrew Tutte out of action at present.

And Isgrove can now be added to that list after the winger had to come off after half an hour with a hamstring strain, which Wanderers are yet to learn the extent of.

Another one to add to the list in an extraordinary run of injuries.

Afolayan's fifth yellow of the season

Dapo Afolayan picked up his fifth yellow card of the League One campaign after a challenge with Donny's Matt Smith.

As it was the 19th game of the campaign, it means that he must sit out the next game of the season with a suspension.

That will be against Cheltenham Town on Saturday and Wanderers will have to search for three points without their star of the season and top scorer.