Steven Schumacher praised Bolton’s squad mentality after they stretched their unbeaten home record to 16 games with a 2-1 League One comeback win at home to Exeter.
Trailing to Jack Aitchison’s spectacular 20th-minute 40-yard strike, Wanderers grabbed goals from substitutes Sam Dalby and Thierry Gale in the last 20 minutes.
Fellow replacements Jordi Osei-Tutu and Kyle Dempsey also played a part in the respective goals to delight manager Schumacher.
“Thierry was excellent and created loads of opportunities and became the match winner,” he said as Bolton climbed up to fourth.
“I thought all the subs who came on were brilliant. It is a squad game and we all want the same outcome.
“It is hard at the moment to pick a starting XI because they are all playing well.
“When I bring people off, it’s not because of performance levels. It is just we may need to change something tactically or introduce more energy.”
Aitchison’s fourth goal of the season came after a disastrous attempted header by sweeper goalkeeper Teddy Sharman-Lowe.
Wanderers dominated before and after Aitchison’s strike at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.
However, not until Dalby tapped in a after Osei-Tutu’s shot hit a post did the hosts get back on level terms.
And when Dempsey played him in, Gale steered a cool right-footed finish into the net for the winner.
“We showed good character not to panic,” added Schumacher. “We had to find a way to break them down which wasn’t easy because they had something to hold onto.
“We had the quality in the end and we got what we deserved.”
With the score still at 1-0, Exeter boss Gary Caldwell pointed to the loss of striker Josh Magennis with an ankle issue as a potential turning point.
“Josh is a big personality,” said Caldwell of the former Bolton striker and Northern Ireland international.
“He has not been in the team and has been frustrated. But he trains like a top professional that’s why he has played 80-odd times for his country.
“As a group, we have to learn from him that you must be ready whenever you are called upon to give everything and get your team the points.
“For large parts, I thought we were going to get them. Ultimately, we threw them away in the last 20 minutes.
“Bolton are a very good team but we had a clear gameplan. We knew we would be a threat on the counter.
“Then we needed the squad to stand up in the second half. We had to try and get a second goal rather than sit and wait.
“So, we need more from our finishers to get us over the line. Their finishers came on and gave them a new dimension and new energy.”
