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Dion Charles is now more than halfway towards 20 goals for the season – and Ian Evatt believes he can reach the milestone with more performances like the one at Barnsley.
The Northern Ireland international has hit the magical 20 mark before whilst playing for Accrington Stanley but has produced some inconsistent results for the Whites this season.
Stats from Wyscout claim that while Charles has returned 11 goals for Wanderers, his expected goals tally in all competitions (13.58) indicated he should have scored more.
Factoring in just League One games, only Elis Harrison of Port Vale (10.24) and Peterborough United’s Jonson Clarke-Harris (11.26) have a higher expected goals than Charles (9.53) among strikers who have featured in at least half of their respective clubs’ matches.
Charles scored from the penalty spot at Oakwell but also had a couple of other good chances in the first half which could have boosted his total significantly.
No Bolton player has managed to score 20 goals in a single season since Michael Ricketts managed 24 in 2000/01, the season Sam Allardyce’s side won promotion to the Premier League via a play-off final win against Preston North End.
Despite his changeable fortunes in front of goal, Charles reached double figures faster than anyone since Nicolas Anelka 15 years ago.
Evatt admits his striker should have more goals in the bag but his non-stop display at Barnsley bodes well for Saturday, when Bolton will once again be looking towards him to unpick Plymouth Argyle’s defences.
“When you look at it, 11 goals isn’t bad, but it’s also a ‘what could he have scored’ type of discussion with Dion too,” he told The Bolton News.
“We spoke to Dion before the game and the first five to 10 minutes of that Barnsley game really highlights what he can do for us.
“That pace and ability to run and stretch defenders is hard to find. He is aggressive with it as well, so he did everything we planned, and I am really pleased about that and we want to see more, definitely.”
Charles has scored four penalties in the league this season, a total matched only by Exeter City’s Jevani Brown and Lincoln City’s Jack Diamond.
Evatt felt that he could have had another opportunity at Barnsley a few minutes before referee Seb Stocksbridge did point to the spot, having been dragged down by Liam Hitching.
“I think Dion has been a bit too honest and stayed on his feet,” he said of the early appeal. “I am never going to be someone who tells their strikers to go down easily, or to look for penalties – but I do think you can be fouled and still stay on your feet.”
Wanderers have been awarded five penalties in all - Aaron Morley converting the other one - and have a 100 per cent success rate.
Newly promoted Exeter City have also scored five from five, with Portsmouth and Lincoln both scoring four out of four awarded.
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