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Amadou Bakayoko was proud to grab the late goal which kept Wanderers’ unbeaten run going after a day of shame in Morecambe.
The big striker swept home his seventh goal of the campaign to earn a point for Ian Evatt’s men, an amazing 14 minutes into stoppage time.
A shadow had been cast on the match after accusation of verbal abuse – some of it racial - and spitting towards players and staff on the Wanderers bench.
Ian Evatt led his side off the field in protest at one stage to allow police and stewards to find culprits in the Wright and Lord Stand behind the dugout.
Bakayoko was asked by the club not to comment on the abuse itself as the investigations are ongoing – but was nevertheless delighted to have provided such a definitive goal in his Bolton career.
“What happened just galvanised us as a team,” he told The Bolton News.
“We felt like we had a chance (when the team came back on to the field). The togetherness we have at the moment is brilliant, it is definitely something to build on.
“It was a massive point to keep us unbeaten. I was just proud of everyone who was involved, all the staff members.”
Bakayoko also paid tribute to the Wanderers fans for lifting the players after the team went down to 10 men in the second half.
Ricardo Santos was sent off by referee Ross Joyce for a deliberate handball – a red card likely to be appealed by the club today – but had fallen a goal behind when Cole Stockton atoned for his earlier penalty miss.
“The fans have been a big help for the last couple of games,” Bakayoko said. “The last few months have been tough for them, so we needed to repay them on the pitch with our performances.
“Their backing has been great. Long may that continue, and long may we keep getting points for them.”
Players were taken off the pitch for 10 minutes with the score at 1-0, emerging only after Evatt and members of the coaching staff had gone on to the pitch to try and calm down the furious 1,700-strong away support.
Inside the dressing room, Bakayoko said the players were galvanised into a reaction.
“It was strange but we needed to stay switched on,” he said. “We knew the end job was to go back out and get at least a point.
“We got a few words from the gaffer. On the pitch we knew we had a good chance to get something, so it was a chance to gather our thoughts a bit.
“Concentration was the thing. The gaffer tried to keep us on our toes, keep us switched on, nobody wants to come off in that situation but we kept focus and stuck it out.”
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