Player Ratings: Oldham Athletic 0-2 Bolton Wanderers

After some early Oldham Athletic pressure, Bolton Wanderers cantered to a sixth straight league win for the first time since 2000. Here is how the players faired.

Matt Gilks - 7.5

Gilks has had a brilliant turn around in form since his howler against Mansfield Town. The only thing really holding back his score here was the fact that he had so little of real substance to do.

Once again his distribution was massively better than it was a few months ago and he collected everything which came his way cooly. He loses .5 for not coming for a ball across the box in the first half which I felt he should have collected.

Gethin Jones - 9

I thought Jones was brilliant on the night both defensively and going forward. His ball to set up the first goal was perfect. Had the Oldham birthday boy not turned it home Eoin Doyle would have done the honours with no issues.

I described him a couple of weeks ago as simply a Mr. Reliable type, but he has elevated his game far beyond that level in the last few games, offering a genuine option down the right going forward.

Ricardo Santos - 9.5

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Santos once again was immense. On the ball he was brilliant. He was exceptional using his strength and positioning. He flowed forward gloriously. The pace he shows on the recovery too is immense. A fantastic piece of business by the club to extend his contract.

The only thing dropping his score below a 10 was the failure to test the keeper/set up a team mate when meeting a cross in acres of space in the Oldham box.

Alex Baptiste - 9

Baptiste is up there with Santos on his recent performances and it is no surprise Bolton have conceded in only two of their last six games. I thought Baptiste was a good bit of business during the summer to bring in some extra experience alongside the likes of Santos. I imagine I am not alone in feeling my expectations have been massively exceeded. Hopefully he can continue his form through a congested fixture list.

Declan John - 8

John showed his class once again, despite the lack of a stand out moment through a goal or assist as in recent weeks. I would have liked to see him given a breather during the second half given his importance to the team.

Kieran Lee - 8

Lee continues to show that he is playing below his level in the footballing pyramid. The quality levels in the Bolton midfield now, both starting and on the bench, is so high and this man leads the way for me.

MJ Williams - 8

Williams continues to grow his reputation now he has a run of games under his belt. He is so good at breaking up play and just being in the right place at the right time. His role in shoring up Bolton’s defence I do not think should be underestimated.

Oladapo Afolayan - 8

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I was not blown away last week with Afolayan but I did think he would have better days and this was one of them. Chris has written an article, read here, about how he is the maverick we needed and this was the game for me where he really set out his stool in terms of what he is capable of. The exciting thing is, I feel there is probably more to come from the youngster.

He was unlucky not a bury a brilliant shot from the edge of the box, but takes the assist curtesy of an alert Doyle.

Antoni Sarcevic - 7.5

I think Sarcevic looks good in the central attacking midfield position, I think it suits him and the team. He did not quite make the impact which he did off the bench in previous games but he still put in a strong shift.

Nathan Delfouneso - 7

Lucky not to have picked up an injury when on the receiving end of the challenge which reduced Oldham to ten men. He showed his quality with the first time pass into Jones which was instrumental in setting up the first goal. More of that please.

Eoin Doyle - 8

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If it were not for the untimely intervention of an Oldham defender he would have had a brace. Showed great alertness to follow up Afolayan’s effort and there was only going to be one outcome when he did. Bolton’s highest goalscorer for many years now, and there is every sign he is motivated to keep his place ahead of Shaun Miller

Sub 1: George Thomason - 6

By the time Thomason was introduced the game had petered out with Bolton dropping into first gear. This probably reflects the fact that he did not get involved all that much. Some good closing down, but one horrifically overhit pass.

Sub 2: Marcus Maddison - 6

I felt we saw some sparks. He did brilliantly to win the ball back twice and drive forward. The subsequent shot and pass were rusty and a disappointing end to promising breaks. He did though put a good ball into the box later in proceedings.

Things are not clicking for Maddison yet, but I still feel we will see the best of him before the season is out.

Sub 3 - Shaun Miller - 6

He did enough to keep knocking on the door in the closing stages without anything really dropping to him. Like Thomason, something of a victim of the game long being over as a contest.

Sub 4: Arthur Gnahoua - 6

Fell below his usual match winning standards off the bench, but input the same comment as for Thomason and Miller there.