Ian Evatt's Sunderland claim in Bolton Wanderers win as praise heaped on duo's performances

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Ian Evatt felt Sunderland had only one opportunity in the clash against his Bolton Wanderers side as he praised the impact that Dion Charles and Dapo Afolayan had in the 6-0 thrashing.

Charles put Wanderers ahead before Afolayan added a second before half-time. Charles bagged his second after the break before Kieran Lee added a fourth as Wanderers blitzed the Black Cats. READ MORE: Bolton Wanderers player ratings as Dion Charles and Dapo Afolayan brilliant in Sunderland rout Danny Batth put through his own net to add a fifth for the hosts before Declan John rounded off the win with a sublime sixth goal as a rampant Wanderers made it three victories on the bounce in League One.

The only time the clean sheet came under threat was after the break when James Trafford denied Sunderland substitute Jack Clarke, which Evatt was pleased with it being the only time Wanderers might have been breached as he praised the strike partnership of Charles and Afolayan.

He said: "They had one opportunity where a bit of a break of the ball and Marlon (Fossey) didn’t quite track his runner, but James (Trafford) credit to him, a young goalkeeper enjoying us playing the way we were to stay switched on and concentrating and make that save was brilliant, but I think that was really the only opportunity they had, which was pleasing. “We understood that if we’re playing two strikers against two central defenders, then you have to make that pay and they’re both physically strong and quick, Dion and Dapo and we wanted them running down the sides of their two centre backs. "They did that exceptionally well. “Any team can only function and is only as good as their strikers and today our strikers were outstanding. “That’s something that we speak a