Bakayoko impact, clean sheet, play-off hopes - Five ups from Bolton Wanderers' win vs Crewe Alex

Bolton Wanderers went into the international break on a high as they returned to winning ways with a late win on the road against Crewe Alexandra.

In a first half which was scrappy in windy conditions at Gresty Road and Bolton's best chance came through Kieran Sadlier's free-kick being saved, Wanderers improved after the break and Dapo Afolayan struck the post as the visitors looked more likely to score.

And that late goal came when Sadlier's free-kick came off the post and George Johnston crossed back into the box for Amadou Bakayoko to net his 11th goal of the season and reduce the deficit to the play-offs to nine points with seven games of their season left after the 1-0 victory in Cheshire.

READ MORE: 'Never looked like scoring' - Crewe Alex boss makes claim about Bolton Wanderers winning goal

The result leaves Wanderers remaining 11th in the League One table and nine points from the top six, with seven games left to go when they return from the international break at the start of April.

After the late drama in Cheshire, we analyse the positives for Wanderers after picking up three points on the road.

Ups

Successive clean sheets on the road

Keeping goals out at one end of the pitch is halfway towards the way to achieving success in football and Wanderers managed a clean sheet on the road.

And the lack of conceding a goal at Gresty Road meant that Wanderers have kept successive clean sheets away from home for the first time this campaign.

It has been a while coming but hopefully that can give Wanderers a huge boost when their next away day comes around - the small matter of Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium following the international break.

Grinding out a victory

Ian Evatt has previously referred to games like