Dion Charles scored his 12th goal of the season as Bolton beat managerless Portsmouth to register a second win in five days over their south coast visitors.
The Northern Ireland international fired Ian Evatt’s play-off chasers in front with a left-foot finish after 15 minutes.
Jon Dadi Bodvarsson had netted a midweek Papa John’s Trophy winner against Pompey to earn Wanderers a semi-final trip to Accrington.
This time he suffered a game ending injury 10 minutes before the break, however, handing a debut to Southampton loanee Dan Nlundulu.
Bolton, unbeaten in eight games in all competitions, survived a rare scare when Michael Morrison headed narrowly wide in the first half.
And they tightened their grip two minutes after the re-start. Goalkeeper Josh Oluwayemi fumbled Kyle Dempsey’s cross and Kieran Lee fired home his third goal of the Trotters’ ever-improving season.
Oluwayemi denied Nlundulu a first Wanderers goal before Eoin Toal steered in Conor Bradley’s assist to wrap up victory and leave Portsmouth, under the caretaker charge of Simon Bassey, without a league win since 22 October.
Match report supplied by PA Media.
Line-ups
Bolton
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 19Trafford
- 18Total
- 15Aimson
- 6johnstonSubstituted forAlmeida Santosat 83′minutes
- 21Bradley
- 16Morley
- 22DempseySubstituted forSheehanat 83′minutes
- 27Williams
- 20LeeSubstituted forWilliamsat 75′minutes
- 9BödvarssonSubstituted forN’Lunduluat 37′minutes
- 10CharlesSubstituted forKachungaat 75′minutes
Substitutes
- 4Williams
- 5Almeida Santos
- 7Sadlier
- 8Sheehan
- 11N’Lundulu
- 24Kachunga
- 30Beck
Portsmouth
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 21Oluwayemi
- 28MorrisonSubstituted forTowlerat 67′minutes
- 20Raggett
- 6Ogilvie
- 2Swanson
- 8TunnicliffeSubstituted forThompsonat 83′minutes
- 16MorrellBooked at 85mins
- 3HumeSubstituted forHackett-Fairchildat 67′minutes
- 15Give it
- 24JacobsSubstituted forCurtisat 66′minutes
- 9BishopSubstituted forScarlettat 83′minutes
Substitutes
- 10Pigott
- 11Curtis
- 18Hackett-Fairchild
- 19Scarlett
- 23Thompson
- 33Steward
- 34Towler
Live Text
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Match ends, Bolton Wanderers 3, Portsmouth 0.
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Second Half ends, Bolton Wanderers 3, Portsmouth 0.
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Attempt missed. Sean Raggett (Portsmouth) header from the center of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Ronan Curtis with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Portsmouth. Granted by Will Aimson.
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Offside, Portsmouth. Dane Scarlett tries a through ball, but Ronan Curtis is caught offside.
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Joe Morrell (Portsmouth) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Conor Bradley (Bolton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Joe Morrell (Portsmouth).
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Substitution, Portsmouth. Dane Scarlett replaces Colby Bishop.
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Substitution, Portsmouth. Louis Thompson replaces Ryan Tunnicliffe.
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Substitution, Bolton Wanderers. Josh Sheehan replaces Kyle Dempsey.
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Substitution, Bolton Wanderers. Ricardo Santos replaces George Johnston.
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Attempt blocked. Zak Swanson (Portsmouth) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Joe Morrell.
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Attempt saved. Colby Bishop (Portsmouth) right footed shot from the center of the box is saved in the center of the goal. Assisted by Reeco Hackett-Fairchild with a cross.
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Attempt missed. Owen Dale (Portsmouth) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Colby Bishop.
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George Johnston (Bolton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Ronan Curtis (Portsmouth).
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Elias Kachunga (Bolton Wanderers) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Ryley Towler (Portsmouth).
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Aaron Morley (Bolton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.