Five Things: Bolton Wanderers 3-1 Port Vale

Well that felt pretty good.

Phil Parkinson has been saying for weeks that soon we’re going to absolutely rinse another team (paraphrasing) and about half an hour in, it really looked like it could be the day.

In the end, we won with the classic two goal margin that we have done the last few weeks but there were a lot of talking points as well.

1) Goals

Early in the season, a lot of fans thought we’d struggle for goals.

On Saturday, we scored three goals and all were brilliant in their own way.

Zach Clough has been on fire recently and his confidence seems to be growing every game.

Derik’s pass was brilliant, Clough’s turn was lovely and then it was great to see him drive forward and just try his luck from outside the box instead of taking it too far.

For the second, Ameobi’s work down the right was mesmerising and Vela’s emphatic finish was great.

And then Lawrie Wilson scored from absolutely miles out. It might have taken a deflection on the way in but he struck it so sweetly and it’s great to see the goals being spread about.

2) Finally finding Vela’s best position

Josh Vela has been in and around the first team for years now.

He made his debut back in the Premier League, aged 18.

After years of being in and out of the lineup, Lennon found a place for him at right back.

Considering he’d never played there, he made the position his own.

However he is a midfielder, and while it’s taken a while to find his exact role, he’s definitely found it now.

As the most advanced midfielder, and pretty much a number 10, his energy is superb and he never gives the defenders a minute’s silence, defending from the front with Gary Madine.

It also means he can get into goalscoring positions, and with three goals to his name already this season, there’s no reason he can’t be pushing for double figures if he stays in this position.

3) Derik oozes class

Another one who’s failed to nail down a starting spot since signing is Derik.

Brought in as a centre back, the physical demands of the Championship and League One have perhaps been too much for him to play there.

But as a defensive midfielder he’s brilliant.

Against Bury, him and Spearing looked a class above at times and it was a similar story on Saturday for Derik.

He just breaks up play effortlessly and the pass he provided for Clough’s goal shows how good he can be on the ball at times.

It may seem negative to play two holding midfielders but it definitely works and it allows our front four to push on.

4) Sammy Ameobi

He was absolutely unplayable.

I said when we signed Ameobi that he’s unpredictable and that’s probably the best way to describe him.

The defender never knows what he’s going to do and I don’t think he does some of the time.

However his touch is magical and some of the skills he manages to pull off with those long legs of his are absolutely dazzling.

Anyone of the players could have won man of the match on Saturday but I’m going to give it to Sammy.

5) Mark Beevers is magic

You know the rest.