'Lovable rogue' Dapo Afolayan's Bolton Wanderers protection after 'poor' Wigan Athletic tackles

Ian Evatt feels that Dapo Afolayan is a 'lovable rogue' and that the Bolton Wanderers attacker was on the end of some poor challenges against Wigan Athletic amid an unfair reputation for diving.

The forward one of the key attacking threats for Wanderers as they came from behind to pick up a point on the road against the Latics.

James McClean put the Latics in front early in the first half as his cross found its way all the way through to give the hosts an early lead.

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Leam Richardson's side dominated much of the first half but a big moment came before half-time when referee Samuel Barrott refrained from showing McClean a second yellow card following a foul on Dapo Afolayan, for whom he had fouled for his opening booking earlier in the game.

Wanderers were the better team after the break and got a deserved equaliser when Jon Dadi Bodvarsson rose to nod home Will Aimson's cross and give Wanderers a share of the spoils.

Afolayan was on the end of several challenges at the DW Stadium which led to free-kicks and, in the case of McClean, a booking.

Evatt felt some of the challenges made on his top scorer were poor or mistimed and that perhaps Afolayan's unfair reputation preceded him when it came to the prospect of showing McClean a second yellow card.

But the Bolton boss has vowed Wanderers will rally behind one of their star players and protect him as best as possible.

Evatt said: “He’s a lovable rogue and he’s one of those players and there’s been a few over the years that we love him and want him in our team but every opposition hates him.

"Whether he gets on the wrong side of them or winds them up, I don’t know