Bolton boss Ian Evatt praised the returning Aaron Morley as he struck a stoppage-time winner to down Exeter 2-1 in League One.
Morley, who had been on loan at Wycombe – and also scored their late winner against the Grecians on New Year’s Day – was recalled from his spell and went straight into the team that took on Exeter.
Demi Mitchell had given Exeter the lead but Aaron Collins equalised in the 88th minute before Morley’s heroics won the game for the Trotters.
“I thought Aaron was excellent today and looked confident and fit,” Evatt said. “He was back to the Aaron Morley that we know from the first 18 months really – and that’s what we want.
“That was the whole point of the loan. That was the purpose and he is going to be a big player for us for the rest of the season.
“I thought we deserved to win the game. In the first half, I think we looked dangerous going forward and we should have been ahead. We had control of the game really and the second half was similar.
“We had a huge chance that has to be a goal, we missed that, and whether it was a lack of concentration or feeling sorry at missing that big chance, we then switch off and concede an absolutely awful goal out of nothing and then we have a mountain to climb.
“It is unacceptable for us when we are so dominant and we want better and have to do better. To do that, we have to stop making those silly errors when we are in complete control, but what doesn’t get mentioned is how resilient this group are and they always find a way to respond.”
Exeter manager Gary Caldwell was left to rue poor defending from his side, which ultimately cost them.
“We did so many things to win the game and I still think we could do better,” Caldwell said.
“We go too safe in those moments. To concede as late as we did and draw would have been a disappointment, but to lose it is really disappointing.
“We have to learn those lessons that help you win football matches because we have done enough to get four points in the last two games, but we have come away with nothing.
“We had moments where I think we could have played better and we did that second half and scored a good goal through Demi. But we have to keep doing what we are doing in that moment.
“We have to be better, you can’t blame it on luck. So much of our game is really good against big teams and I think we have been better than them, but we have to take points from these game and become more ruthless and winners.”
