League One (England)

Jack Aitchison and Reece Cole netted for the Grecians before Mael de Gevigney pulled one back for the Tykes.

Caldwell said: “First half was outstanding football right from the start of the game. We dominated possession, we dominated territory, we dominated chances.

“It was as good as I’ve seen since I’ve been at the club. It could’ve been any score, 2-0 was very fair on Barnsley.

“Again, we always want to improve, we always want to be better – can we be more ruthless in that first half and make it three, four, five.

“But I thought the players were absolutely amazing after a difficult game on Tuesday (against Bristol Rovers), physically.

“They came and just took the game straight form the off.”

On his side’s football in the first 45 minutes, Caldwell said: “Tactically, we changed, we built in a back four, we dropped our full-backs deeper, we asked a lot of questions of them when they tried to jump from full-back.

“The players carried out the gameplan to a letter. Their bravery, their understanding was absolutely sensational and we created chances from that.

“Scored two brilliant goals, could’ve scored more. Without a doubt it was excellent.

“Similarly, to Tuesday, we showed different qualities and had to really dig in and fight to see the game out.”

Barnsley head coach Neill Collins was unhappy with his side’s display.

He said: “I think we were off it in every aspect of the game. I don’t think there was one positive outside of Mael (De Gevigney).

“He kind of held us together in the first half in terms of showing that desire and battle to, despite how poor we were, hold us together.

“Outside of that we were devoid of energy, enthusiasm, quality. So, it was a very difficult first half to watch.”

On his side’s poor first-half performance, Collins said: “Today, it was just across the whole pitch, we just lacked intensity from the start.

“You’re asking me the reasons; I think we’ll look at a lot. Right now, still emotional and frustrated about it.

“I think there’s a lot we’ll need to just consider when we’re as poor as that.”

On players missing through injury and illness, Collins said: “You see the second half and the team showed the other night we’re still more than capable of winning games of football.

“So, I don’t think that is the sole reason. I think the team is more than capable, but I just don’t think we got that intensity and energy right from the start.

“I think a lot of our quality that we have comes from getting that part right.”

A low-key encounter came to life in the second half when striker Bez Lubala thumped home his sixth goal of the campaign but Mills had to concede that Sam Vokes’ clinical volley to equalise was just as good.

“I thought it was a fair result” Mills said. “We huffed and puffed in a game where you had to earn the right to play and it was scrappy at times, perhaps lacking in quality at times but it is a hard-earned League One point.

“You go one-nil up and you expect to see it out, particularly with our recent home record, which has been fantastic.

“A little bit disappointed with their goal. We let them travel forwards, didn’t engage and when the cross comes in, what a fantastic strike from Vokes. He was a handful all day.”

Lubala struck for the second home game in a row and led the line well for Albion, who were short of striking options through injuries.

“Bez has been absolutely immense today, causing their two big physical centre halves plenty of problems and his finish was fantastic,” Mills added. “He is a great lad and he works really hard for the team.”

Albion put youth team striker Dylan Scott on the bench such were Mills’ striking options with the caretaker boss hoping to bolster the squad soon.

“We won’t moan and we will get on with it and hope that we can strengthen. It is a big chance for the academy lads at the moment,” he said.

Wycombe boss Matt Bloomfield had to watch from the stands as he served a one-match touchline ban but was pleased with a hard-earned point on the road.

“It’s a very good point” Bloomfield acknowledged. “Burton have been very resolute recently and hard to beat, not conceding many goals at all so we knew we were in for a tough afternoon.

“We knew it was going to be a completely different game from Monday against Bristol Rovers and we had to prepare as such and make sure the boys were ready to win the battle.

“Any point on the road has to be respectable and based on the way we played I thought we probably deserved more from the game, but it wasn’t to be and we have to take the positives and move on.

“I thought we bounced back really well from conceding and possibly deserved to win but it wasn’t to be.

“Sam had a couple of decent headed chances and we delivered some really good chances in to him but it was a really top volley from him for the goal.

“After that David Wheeler and Sam have both hit the bar and we have had numerous chances to win a football match. We have to be proud of the way we played and build on that.”

Charlton led on three occasions, through Corey Blackett-Taylor, Daniel Kanu and Tyreece Campbell, but Ethan Chislett’s successfully converted penalty and goals from Uche Ikpeazu and Gavin Massey earned Vale a point.

Chances were at a premium in the early stages and Charlton took the lead out of nowhere in the 27th minute when Blackett-Taylor slotted home after latching onto Louie Watson’s header back into the box from a cleared corner.

Vale were level just before half-time, though, as Chislett sent Ashley Maynard-Brewer the wrong way from the penalty spot after Massey’s attempted cross hit Karoy Anderson’s arm in the area.

The visitors started the second half brightly and their pressure told shortly before the hour mark, with Kanu capitalising on some poor defending to poke the ball into the net after a one-two with Tayo Edun.

Four minutes later, the Valiants equalised for a second time thanks to Ikpeazu’s header from captain Nathan Smith’s cross.

The Addicks went ahead again in the 83rd minute courtesy of Campbell’s first-time shot from substitute Terell Thomas’ cross-cum-shot.

But they could not hold on for victory as Massey’s fantastic curling effort from the edge of the area secured Vale a share of the spoils in the second minute of stoppage time.

The striker nodded in Liam Sercombe’s free-kick from the right in the 34th minute to put the improving Robins on course for their fifth win in 12 games under boss Darrell Clarke.

And Lloyd touched in Tom Bradbury’s downward header from Sean Long’s corner to seal the points five minutes from the end.

Sercombe tested Marko Marosi with a powerful drive in the ninth minute, but chances were at a premium in a cagey first half.

A low shot from Shrews midfielder Carl Winchester was well blocked by Lewis Freestone and Winchester blasted one wide against his old club before Lloyd’s opener.

Taylor Perry fizzed a shot wide early in the second half for the visitors, before Cheltenham nearly doubled their lead in the 63rd minute.

Lloyd set up ex-Shrews striker Rob Street, who saw his effort cleared off the line by Jordan Shipley.

Ben Williams had a free-kick touched over the bar by Marosi and another set-piece from the left wing-back crashed against the bar in the 81st minute, before Lloyd had the final say.

The visitors had threatened in the first half with Cumming saving angled shots from Ruel Sotiriou and Moncur.

Tyler Goodrham fired the U’s in front in the 20th minute, turning in Ruben Rodrigues’ right-wing cross at the end of a fine move for his 10th goal of the season in all competitions.

Moncur was denied again before when Jamie Cumming parried his shot from 14 yards, while Tom James had a free-kick tipped over the crossbar.

Orient equalised six minutes into the second half when Ollie O’Neill shot – on the turn – low past Cumming from Idris El Mizouni’s pass.

And Moncur completed the turnaround with a right-footed shot past Cumming from 16 yards after 77 minutes.

The result was no more than the Londoners deserved as they had enjoyed more possession and shots than the home side.

Orient boss Richie Wellens was sent to the stand for dissent in the closing minutes.

After an uneventful first half, the Us went on to dominate the second and their pressure paid off 17 minutes from time when Liam Bennett’s cross was headed home by George Thomas, eight minutes after his arrival as a substitute.

The away side missed a big chance to take the lead inside the first two minutes when Jack Armer pulled the ball back to Danny Butterworth, who could only shoot wide of the far post.

Cambridge’s pressure built after the break, with Carlisle goalkeeper Tomas Holy getting down well to push James Brophy’s effort wide at his near post in the  69th minute.

Moments after that he was a spectator as Bennett tried his luck from distance, his shot curling narrowly off target, before Thomas opened the scoring.

Carlisle’s afternoon got worse seven minutes from the end when Armer was dismissed for collecting his second yellow card, before Alfie McCalmont also saw red in added time for a dangerous high tackle on Paul Digby.

And it was two-goal Hakeeb Adelakun, a player effectively snubbed by Appleton during his tenure at Lincoln, who inflicted the most damage, with Sean Roughan adding a third after Alfie May had fired the Addicks into an early lead.

Charlton took a 10th-minute lead when Tyreece Campbell raced on to a through-ball down the left and crossed for the diving May to bundle in from close range.

Lasse Sorensen’s 20-yard effort forced Ashley Maynard-Brewer into a full-length save before the Imps levelled when Sorensen fed Jack Burroughs and his cross reached Adelakun, who controlled expertly before swivelling and smashing home.

Burroughs then fired high and wide when well placed before Sorensen raced through on goal only to be denied by Maynard-Brewer, but the ball bounced against the makeshift forward and hit a post before being scrambled clear.

Sorensen’s volley was kept out by Maynard-Brewer before the Dane set up Adelakun to stab home from close range and put Lincoln ahead.

Maynard-Brewer foiled Sorensen twice more only to be beaten by Roughan after 77 minutes, with the Irish defender latching on to a loose ball to fire home.

The Cobblers turned the contest around after Rob Hunt’s early goal as Sam Hoskins scored twice in four second-half minutes, but Kieron Bowie then saw red for an apparent headbutt.

Orient utterly dominated the final half-hour but they were made to wait until the 96th minute to snatch a point through Shaq Forde.

“It’s hard to really comprehend,” admitted Brady. “I felt we got ourselves in a good position with 11 players out there.

“We stepped on the gas in the second half and turned it around and find ourselves 2-1 and from there I thought we would go on and win the game and maybe score more goals.

“Even in the first half, I felt we were the team having all of the entries into the final third. Yes, they had a few moments and there was a 10-minute period where they had a spell.

“It’s a disappointing goal to concede but then after that we were in the ascendancy and we pointed out a few technical things that we needed to improve at half-time and we did that.

“It made a big difference and Sam gets his goals, but the sending-off changes the dynamic of the game.

“I didn’t see the incident because I was trying to organise our back line but all I heard was the linesman say there was a coming together and they were sending Kieron off. I’ll have to watch it back.”

Orient dominated the shot count but manager Richie Wellens admitted they ultimately paid the price for a ‘wacky’ five-minute spell.

“We started really poorly and for six or seven minutes we couldn’t get out,” said Wellens. “We gave too many set-pieces away but I thought we dominated the next 25 minutes.

“We scored a great team goal and we were on top and I’d be surprised if their goalkeeper wasn’t man of the match, but we have a mad five minutes.

“Players make mistakes and you have to ride with it but Northampton’s first goal comes from our corner and then it’s a horrible deflection past our goalkeeper.

“We then give away a stupid penalty and within four minutes the game has turned around, but when they went down to 10 men, we totally dominated the game.

“Our decision-making needs to be better in terms of our final pass and our movement. I’m really disappointed because I felt we deserved to win the game but a wacky five minutes has cost us.

“We need to score more goals if we want to get to where we want to be.”

Dan Agyei gave Orient a 19th-minute lead from the penalty spot but Harvey Knibbs equalised four minutes later from close range.

Although the sides offered plenty of effort and endeavour after the interval, neither was able to make the breakthrough.

Both teams had been in good form going into the game, with Reading beaten just twice in 11 league outings.

Orient had won their last three matches and four out of their past five.

Reading started the better but Orient went ahead when Tom Holmes inexplicably handled a Ruel Sotiriou cross and Agyei slotted home the spot kick for his fourth goal in as many games.

But the hosts were soon level when Sam Smith flicked on a Charlie Savage corner and Knibbs spun nicely to tuck in his 12th goal of the campaign in all competitions.

It was also the first goal that Orient had conceded in 553 minutes.

The second half continued to reflect the even nature of the contest, with Orient’s Idris El Mizouni testing home keeper David Button and, at the other end, Andy Yiadom forcing a good stop from Sol Brynn.

Agyei could have won it for Orient near the end but his fierce shot was superbly saved by Button at his near post.

A lively first half saw Pompey take the lead in the 12th minute when Paddy Lane swept home from Alex Robertson’s pass.

Stevenage equalised after 26 minutes when a Jamie Reid cross was headed home by Louis Thompson against his old club.

But Pompey were back in front seven minutes later as Lane’s cross was backheeled into the net by top-scorer Colby Bishop.

Stevenage substitute Nathan Thompson was sent off for a kung-fu style kick on Christian Saydee late on, while Evans’ assistant Paul Raynor was also sent from the touchline.

Evans said: “Pompey were better than us in the first half. I got it a bit wrong technically, but tweaked things at half-time, and thought we were by far the better team in the second half and should have won the game.

“You’re playing against a team with probably a 90 per cent bigger budget than us. It was one-way domination.

“We should have had what was a clear-cut penalty near the end. Even the Pompey fans would agree. It was bewildering not to get it, then their captain avoids what was a certain yellow card.

“The video doesn’t lie and will show the horrendous decisions made by the referee today. He was shocking. The decisions he made in the second half were disgraceful. But I can’t disagree with Nathan being sent off.”

Portsmouth boss John Mousinho said: “I am very pleased with the result and performance today, especially the second half. I think to come back from conceding as we did in the first half, when not looking likely to at that point, showed character.

“It created a tricky period for us, but we dealt with it well by going in at half-time ahead. We showed a lot of grit and determination in the second half. We were looking more tired than them, but then they had played a game less over the Christmas period.

“The defence stood firm, and Will Norris had very little to do in terms of saves despite a lot of pressure.

“We were determined to start the new year off well, which is what we have done. We needed it. We hadn’t won in three, which enabled the teams behind us to claw their way back a bit. There is still work to do.”

Okenabirhie had the chance to win the game for the U’s from 12 yards after Jack Lankester had been fouled in the box by Nathan Smith, but the striker saw his effort blocked by Ripley, who saved five of the six penalties he faced playing for Morecambe last season.

Vale boss Andy Crosby said: “He’s got a reputation for saving penalties, and it’s credit to the work that goes on with the analysts off the pitch, and to the decision Connor has made on it.

He continued: “Overall I think it’s a good point earned away from home. We had good control in the first half and created chances, but the over-riding emotion is that we weren’t clinical enough in either box.

“We had the chances to take the game away from Cambridge.”

The visitors could have hit the front after three minutes, but Ethan Chislett’s shot deflected wide off team-mate James Wilson when the former AFC Wimbledon midfielder looked certain to score.

Chislett was involved when his side took a 20th-minute lead, supplying a precise through ball for Ben Garrity, who buried his effort past Will Mannion.

Sullay Kaikai had a header tipped over by Ripley as Cambridge tried to respond, and in the second half Danny Andrew saw a low effort canon back off the post.

Manager Mark Bonner made a treble substitution in the 62nd minute, and was rewarded four minutes later when two of his replacements combined for the equaliser, with John-Kymani Gordon supplying the cross for Okenabirhie to head in his fourth league goal of the season.

A poor backpass by Liam Bennett presented Gavin Massey with a chance to put Vale back in front soon afterwards, but Mannion stood up well to save his shot.

Then came the late drama, with Ripley making himself the hero.

Cambridge’s Bonner said: “It’s frustrating because it feels like we’ve lost a chance to win the game, but overall I think the point is a fair one. They’ve had chances, but I love the way we played in the second half and the opportunities we created.

“We have to respect and take the point because we didn’t get enough draws last season.”

On Okenabirhie’s penalty, Bonner added: “He’s a brilliant penalty taker, who has been really reliable this season and scored a couple already. I’m sure he’ll take the next one when he’s on the pitch and score it, because it’s a real strength of his. It was a whisker away from a brilliant turnaround but it wasn’t to be.”

Joe Pigott gave Orient a first-half lead from the penalty spot before a superb 20-yard strike by Herbie Kane levelled matters.

The visitors ended the match with 10 men following the dismissal of substitute Sam Cosgrove.

Orient nosed ahead in the 27th minute when referee Peter Wright ruled that a shot by Ruel Sotiriou had been handled by Jamie McCart in the penalty area.

After vehement protests from the Tykes players, Pigott stepped forward to calmly slot the ball home.

The Tykes should have levelled a minute into the second-half when Devante Cole picked out Max Watters at the far post with Sol Brynn stranded but the Barnsley forward stabbed the chance wide from five yards.

The visitors deservedly levelled, however, when Kane exchanged passes with Cole before drilling his shot into the roof of the net from 20 yards out.

Cosgrove was booked in the 89th minute for a foul and two minutes later was again shown the yellow card for dissent, resulting in his dismissal.

Warne saw his side dominate but fail to break down a resilient Cambridge team, leaving County with only one league win at Pride Park this season.

Tom Barkhuizen should have done better with a chance in the first minute which he fired at Will Mannion and the winger had another goal-bound shot blocked before half-time.

Martyn Waghorn should have broken the deadlock in the 66th minute, but his header bounced over the bar with the goal at his mercy and, despite late pressure, Derby could not break through.

Warne said: “Our form at home hasn’t been good enough to justify a top-three spot, has it?

“If we’d hung on against Wigan and Portsmouth and scored late here we’d have been in the top three or four and it’d look great.

“Collectively we have to find a way to take our chances at home. When we’re on top we need to be clinical and at the moment we possibly aren’t.

“There wasn’t a lot wrong with the performance, but people don’t turn up to watch us draw 0-0, they want to see us smash teams up. But that wasn’t the case and that’s the disappointment for us.

“We need to be better at things if we’re going to be successful, we have to score goals.

“We didn’t have enough to finish the game off and we didn’t take our gilt-edged chances. We created enough chances, we had maybe four very good ones, and I’d expect us to take 50 per cent of them.”

Cambridge head coach Mark Bonner said: “A fifth clean sheet in nine league games and a brilliant point for us.

“I think every time we go to the top teams we know how hard it is over the last couple of years, so to get a result on a day where we had to defend so often in our box keeps us ticking along nicely.

“We played better at Wigan two weeks ago and lost, but that’s just how football works.

“I think our performance levels against the top teams have been okay and there’s definitely things we can do better, but this is a big, big point for us and gives us some confidence that we can go and get results against teams.

“We’ve had some horrible days against the biggest teams, so it’s not like a tourist day out, you’ve got to take something from the game, then you do learn from them and they are ones that can inspire you.”

Coventry in 1919-20 and Hartlepool in 1992-93 also went 11 games without scoring and here, the PA news agency looks at the longest scoreless runs and how the Robins compare.

Cheltenham not at the races

Junior Quitirna and Jack Marriott scored Fleetwood’s goals as Cheltenham had veteran defender Curtis Davies sent off on their way to another unwanted record.

Their nine-game drought up to September 23’s 3-0 defeat to Stevenage was already the longest from the start of a Football League season, beating Halifax Town’s eight in 1990-91. Last Saturday’s 2-0 loss at Lincoln extended that before Fleetwood won by the same scoreline.

The Robins prop up League One with a solitary point, with only a goalless draw against Portsmouth breaking the run of defeats as 19 goals have gone in at the other end – exceeding the 15 shipped by Hartlepool or 13 by Coventry in their own runs of futility.

Expanding the picture to all competitions does not improve matters, with Cheltenham beaten 2-0 by Birmingham in the Carabao Cup. The ball did end up in Bristol Rovers’ goal in the Papa John’s Trophy but via an own goal from James Gibbons, who also scored at the right end in a 4-1 Rovers win.

Town striker Robert Street also scored an own goal in that game, one of three by Cheltenham players this season along with Liam Smith in the 3-0 loss to Bolton and Will Ferry for the only goal at Reading. Davies’ red card against Fleetwood was also their third of the season after James Olayinka and Nathan Butler-Oyedeji left them down to nine men against Peterborough.

Manager Wade Elliott was sacked after that 3-0 defeat, the eighth game in the sequence, with interim boss Kevin Russell and permanent replacement Darrell Clarke as yet unable to stop the rot.

Feeling Blue

The original 11-game record dates back over a century to Coventry’s dismal 1919-20 season in the second tier.

The Sky Blues, playing the same opponents on back-to-back weekends throughout their run, lost 1-0 to Fulham before a goalless draw in the return fixture and then drew 0-0 and lost 1-0 against Bristol City.

Huddersfield beat them 2-0 and 5-0, they followed a goalless draw with a 2-0 defeat against both Blackpool and West Ham, and another 0-0 with Leyton Orient completed the sequence before they ended it in style, Billy Walker’s opener setting up a 3-2 win over Stoke on Christmas Day 1919.

The first six scoreless games were under the caretaker management of Harry Harbourne, after William Clayton had been sacked following a poor start to the season. Harry Pollitt, who took over in time for the first Blackpool fixture and oversaw the remainder of the run, was later banned from football for life after being found guilty of match-fixing offences in the season-ending double-header against Bury.

Hartlepool, who like Cheltenham today were playing in the third tier, started their 1993 goalless run in the same way Coventry ended theirs as they drew 0-0 with Orient on January 9, before matching that result next time out against Preston.

They then lost 3-0 to Huddersfield and 2-0 in successive games against Rotherham, Reading and Port Vale. Mansfield and Bolton also beat them by two goals, interspersed with 1-0 losses to Bournemouth and Chester, before a goalless draw with Wigan.

A 1-1 draw against Blackpool on March 6 finally ended the run and ensured they did not break the record outright – can Cheltenham do likewise against Derby on Saturday?

The Latics had twice led through Josh Magennis (penalty) and Thelo Aasgaard, and held a 2-1 interval advantage.

But after Jamie Reid had found the first equaliser, Piergianni was on hand to head home midway through the second period to make it 2-2, before substitute Louis Thompson secured all three points in the last 10 minutes.

“The performance had to be great to win here, particularly as we have two big individual errors for their goal,” said Evans.

“What we said at half-time was we’re not going to change anything, we were in the game, and we would be sitting 1-0 up had we not done the individual errors.

“But the honesty and integrity we have in the dressing room, both lads walked in with their hands up and apologising to me and the staff and the group – which they didn’t need to do.

“In the second half, we fought our way back in and we dominated for long spells.

“They’re always threatening on the counter attack, but our ‘captain fantastic’ comes up with another brilliant header.

“He’s a man that…yes, I would kiss him! And he knows what I think of him.

“All the changes we made were to win the game, and I know a lot of clubs in that position would be trying to hang on to a point.

“But you’re always better trying to win a game and be prepared to lose it than not trying to win a football match.

“That’s why our supporters have travelled so far, to see us try to win a game, and that’s what we’ll always try to do.”

For Wigan boss Shaun Maloney, it was a frustrating afternoon as his side were unable to cope with Stevenage’s tactics.

“We didn’t defend our box anywhere near enough from the long balls and the set-plays, we struggled in both of those areas,” he said.

“Yeah it’s tough…it’s never nice to lose, and never nice to lose at home. It’s very disappointing.

“Stevenage are brilliant at what they do, they’re extremely competitive on and off the pitch, and I really respect what they do.

“We’ve had games this season when we’ve had 30 per cent possession and we’ve had to dig in, so I have no issue with the way Stevenage play.

“We’re trying to do things very differently, but there’s more than one way to win a game of football.

“A lot of teams in this league find it very hard to play against them, so I can’t be too angry at my players.

“I asked the players to play under big pressure, to try to control the game, and we did for large parts.

“But in the most important part of the game, defending our own box, we didn’t get right, and that’s the reason we got beat.

“We just have to remember these types of games, for the rest of this season and beyond.

“Because these are the types of games you have to win if you’re to have any chance of doing something – and I know we’re not in that position yet – and fighting for the top six.”

Captain Ricardo Santos was sent off for the visitors in the 66th minute for bringing down Kyle Joseph in the area.

Jake Beesley converted the resulting spot-kick for his second of the game, having also scored the early equaliser from a free-kick.

“We were on top and in control of the game in the first half, and then we gave away a free-kick that’s never a foul,” Evatt said. “However, we can’t blame the referee for how we defended it – that’s on us.

“The second one we switch off, go 2-1 down, and we had two chances that you just can’t miss.

“It was us probing in the second half, then the sending-off and penalty ends the game. But it’s not a penalty and it’s definitely not a red card.

“Nobody can say, regardless of whether he got the ball or not – he went for the ball. The whole rule is the double jeopardy thing. It’s not a foul I don’t think, and he can’t send him off.

“I’m baffled by the whole performance from the referee today.

“We cannot allow this result to define us. We’ve got to get up and respond.”

Bolton had taken the lead at Bloomfield Road just nine minutes into the game as George Thomason fired home from the edge of the box.

Beesley hit back for the hosts just seven minutes later with a peach of a shot that curled its way into the top corner of the Bolton net.

The game swung further in Blackpool’s favour just before the half-hour mark when Marvin Ekpiteta lashed home the rebound from a George Byers header.

Santos’ sending off and Beesley’s penalty all but confirmed Blackpool’s victory before Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel added a fourth late on at the end of a stylish counter-attack.

Blackpool now sit four points off the play-offs with a game in hand on sixth-placed Oxford while Bolton lost ground on leaders Portsmouth as they suffered their first defeat in seven games.

Tangerines manager Neil Critchley said: “I thought we played with real spirit and we got our just rewards for commitment, effort, being there for each other, and ability as well.

“Everyone has put in a really good performance, so it’s been a really good day for us but we’ve got another game on Tuesday night now.

“If a result like this and a performance like this can’t give us belief for the rest of the season, then nothing will.

“It shows you what we’re capable of, our record against the top six teams is very good – we’ve picked up points against them, but we’ve got to solve our away form.”

Brentford loanee Paris Maghoma scored his first for the club before George Thomason doubled Bolton’s lead in the first half.

Wycombe pulled a goal back in the second half through a Luke Leahy wonder strike and David Wheeler equalised for the home side with less than 10 minutes remaining.

But Bolton dug deep to claim a 4-2 win – the club’s first-ever victory at Wycombe – through an Eoin Toal header and substitute Aaron Morley’s penalty in the dying minutes.

“We were excellent in the first half in the way that we played as we had a lot of bravery at times,” Evatt said.

“You don’t come here and expect to have it your own way for 90 minutes.

“They scored an outstanding goal just after half-time and in football, momentum is everything.

“We were sticking with it and even when we weren’t at our best at times, we got through it.

“We limited them with the chances they had so when they scored from the set-play to equalise, it would have been easy for the lads to duck away and feel sorry for ourselves.

“But we have developed a mindset where we keep believing, and the two lads that came off the bench had a serious impact in the way that we won, as one was scored from a corner, and the other was from the penalty.

“We got in behind them which caused that and, overall, I’m delighted for all my players as we knew we had a bad record coming here.”

Wycombe boss Matt Bloomfield rued a ‘sucker-punch’ finish to the clash.

“We’re disappointed for the way the first half went but when we got the first goal from Luke, and what a goal it was, we were right back in it,” he said.

“We were in the ascendancy, we were in their half and we were good value for a point.

“We’re bitterly disappointed not to get anything from the game.

“We got them pressed and were able to play the way we wanted to play as we created shots, had attacks and tested their keeper but it wasn’t to be this evening.

“Bolton’s third goal came so soon after we equalised so it could be a mentality thing. It happened so quickly.

“The crowd were brilliant when we got it back to 2-2 as they were right behind us, so at the point, the boys were looking to find the winner but unfortunately, we were sucker-punched on two occasions.”

The EFL Trophy winners failed to secure a first-leg advantage in their semi-final and were grateful as leading marksman Dion Charles scrambled in an equaliser after Nicky Cadden’s 64th-minute opener had put Barnsley in the driving seat ahead of next Friday’s return at Oakwell.

Trotters keeper James Trafford, in his final home appearance before returning to Manchester City, produced some vital saves either side of the goals.

Evatt described his team’s first-half display as “shy and timid” but said defiantly: “I know we can play a lot better. I feel really positive.

“Maybe last night’s result (Peterborough’s 4-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday) had an impact because it looked like we were playing in our shells.

“There was a huge amount of nerves and that result effected everyone’s mindset because no one wanted to lose it in the first leg.

“Once the goal went in the shackles came off. All of a sudden we sparked into life and had more possession and more control.

“Barnsley will feel they are in a strong position. But I feel we are in a strong position.

“There will be more onus on them being the home team, more pressure and we are a dangerous team when the spaces become bigger.”

On Trafford’s performance, Evatt said: “James made some wonderful saves. He is the best goalie in the league for a reason and that’s what he does.

“He is a brilliant young keeper and I believe he will go to the very top.”

Opposite number Harry Isted had less to keep him occupied. And when he tried to cut out Randell Williams’ cross, he could only push the ball out for Charles to score.

Trafford continued to thwart Barnsley with a double save from Bobby Thomas while Barnsley skipper Mads Andersen ensured there were no further goals with a fine block from Wanderers substitute Dan N’Lundulu.

“We did enough to win the game,” insisted Barnsley boss Michael Duff. “It was a disciplined performance against a very good team.

“Their goal came from nothing and we had some good chances and the keeper made some good saves.

“It is a sign of our performance that there is a tinge of disappointment that we didn’t do enough to shade it.

“Even after (their goal) we still had enough chances to go on and win it: lots of corners, lots of shots.

“But next Friday will be a tight and similar sort of affair. I said to the players, ‘don’t think the job is done now’. There will be no back-slapping.

“Last time they came to our place they beat us 3-0. There are 90 minutes of the season left so we still have to give it everything again.”

Last season’s play-off semi-finalists slumped to a 4-0 hammering by Wigan on their last home appearance and have often flattered to deceive against supposed fancied teams.

But despite falling behind to Conor Hourihane’s 33rd-minute penalty, Wanderers hit back in a game that saw Derby reduced to 10-men after goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith’s dismissal.

Dion Charles scored an equalising spot-kick before the break to register his fifth goal in as many games.

And after Wildsmith’s sending off after 48 minutes for handling a goal bound Charles shot, Bolton grabbed a 65th-minute winner when Josh Dacres-Cogley’s effort looped off Tyrese Fornah and over substitute keeper Josh Vickers.

“For the first time we showed up against a direct competitor and played the way I know we can,” said Evatt.

“We started exactly how we should have done, but didn’t in the Wigan game.

“We were on the front foot, we were aggressive, we won duels, we played with tempo and we had them penned in for large periods.

“We conceded a goal and it would have been easy for the players to feel sorry for ourselves.

“It would have been easy for fans in the stadium to feel sorry for themselves. But I think the way the majority backed the players today, it was rocking.

“We got ourselves back in the game and I thought it was a deserved three points in the end.

“The sending off almost didn’t help us. Derby almost sacrificed attacking until the last five minutes which were a bit edgy because of the last couple of weeks.”

Derby boss Paul Warne described Wildsmith’s red card as “on the shade of harsh”, but reckoned his team’s defeat was partially self-inflicted.

“I could not tell whether the ball hit him on the chest or his arm,” said Warne.

“What I can say it is difficult for a goalkeeper if it gets smashed at him from 10 yards not to naturally react.”

Warne also pointed to a possible second penalty after first-half culprit Victor Adeboyejo clumsily challenged substitute Sonny Bradley.

“The lad is not looking at the ball and puts him (Bradley) on the floor, which isn’t easy considering Sonny is 6’4”,” Warne added.

“It was frustrating, but that aside I don’t think we were good enough in the first half. Or as good as we should be.

“I keep saying they are better than what they think. They need to play with more courage.”

Warne also confirmed Jake Rooney faces a lengthy absence after suffering a knee injury in the early stages of the first half, which led to Bradley’s introduction.

Top scorer Dion Charles bagged a second-half brace in Wanderers’ biggest win since March 1997 – a defeat under pressure Grecians chief Gary Caldwell described as “embarrassing.”

Victory also lifted the Trotters to the League One summit though Evatt refused to get carried away.

“We have finally got to top spot but things only get harder from here,” he said. “We need to go again and step up again.

“We are nowhere near the finished article. There are lots of things to improve on.

“It feels good (being top) but it will only feel really good at the end of this season. We have done nothing yet.

“It’s not about being top in November it’s about finishing top in April.”

Despite playing down the magnitude of Wanderers’ eighth successive win in all competitions Evatt added: “This is the best group I have worked with as a manager professionally as well as personally.

“The togetherness is exceptional. We have always been wanting to do that and everyone has seen we are capable.

“But to go ahead and do it is something we are pleased about. Once we found our rhythm some of the football was scintillating.”

Bolton took 34 minutes to break down Exeter but Jack Iredale and Victor Adeboyejo then scored before the break.

However, the floodgates opened in the second half. Paris Maghoma made it 3-0, Northern Ireland international Charles netted twice in 11 minutes before substitutes Dan Nlundulu and Kyle Dempsey rounded off the Trotters highest win of the Millennium.

Exeter boss Caldwell received a midweek vote of confidence but admitted: “We have to take what is coming.

“I have had great dialogue with board. They know the long-term plan we have. We are in a difficult moment and we have to stay strong and stick together.

“That is the whole football club: the board, the supporters, staff and players

“We know what we are doing moving forward. But in the short-term we have to win a game of football. Hopefully, this is rock bottom and we can start to build up.

“I believe in this group of players but they need to stand up in these difficult moments. It was embarrassing. We let the club down and let the supporters down.”

Caldwell, whose side topped League One in September but have also been humiliated 9-0 in the EFL Trophy by Reading, added: “We all have to stand up and be counted in this difficult run. We have had problems scoring goals but for me defensively it is an even bigger worry.

“In every single of defending we have to be so much better.”