Manager Ian Evatt admitted Bolton’s return to winning ways was not easy on the eye but described the 2-1 Sky Bet League One victory over Wycombe as “huge.”
Captain Gethin Jones headed the Trotters into a 32nd-minute lead and substitute Jon Dadi Bodvarsson’s added-time goal sealed a first win in four games in all competitions.
Luke Leahy’s penalty consolation for Wycombe came just before the final whistle.
Evatt whose side sit third but have games in hand on leaders Portsmouth and second-placed Derby, said: “It is a huge win but every one is a huge win now.
“It is not always going to be amazing, beautiful, and aesthetically pleasing. You have to find different ways to win matches.
“The team stood up to be counted and that point last Saturday (a 1-1 draw with 10 men at Northampton) looks a very good one.
“We have backed it up now and we have 16 more huge games to go. We are in a very strong position.
“If we take care of our own business no one can stop us and touch us, which is what we want.
“So, I am delighted to win. We did the hard yards really well.
He continued: “Wycombe have only lost once since Boxing Day and they are on a good run of form.
“They have reverted to type a little bit and ask you lots of questions. But we stood up to be counted, magnificently at times.
“In the first half we rode our luck and looked a bit fearful. But the second half was much better.
“We created one of two good opportunities and defended the box a lot better until the last kick of the game.”
Wycombe manager Matt Bloomfield said: “We are frustrated not to take anything from the game because we created some good chances.
“We came up against a very good opponent and Ian Evatt has put a strong squad together. You can see with the amount of changes they can make and still be as strong as they are.
“But I am proud of the performance we put in. We came to go toe to toe and we did that.
“We just lacked a cutting edge in last third of the pitch. But we shouldn’t be negative on a night when we have played like we have.
“I am proud of the way the boys kept going. We rightfully got a goal because we had worked hard. It is nothing less than we deserved.
“It is just a shame it didn’t come five minutes earlier because had it done so we might have been able to get an equaliser.”