WANDERERS became the first side to beat Huddersfield Town in the league in 16 games as Julian Darby’s tenure as interim manager got off to a fairytale start.

Aaron Collins scored the only goal of a thrilling game – but it was the boyhood Wanderer, who had jumped with glee behind the goal when Frank Worthington scored his famous goal against Ipswich in 1979 who took the fans’ adulation after the final whistle.

Wanderers made three changes from the side that had lost against Charlton on Tuesday night with Gethin Jones, Klaidi Lolos and Victor Adeboyejo coming into the side for Jordi Osei-Tutu, Joel Randall and Josh Sheehan. Eoin Toal and Ricardo Santos were not in the squad again but there was a sense that Darby had gone with the most physical line-up possible in the circumstances.

Negativity on the terraces was well documented and much discussed in the final weeks and months of Evatt’s reign but there was a clean slate on that front, as the fans serenaded “one of their own” throughout the first half.

The sense of renewal also extended to the players in that opening 45 minutes. The football was certainly more pragmatic, fewer risks taken in possession, and the defending decidedly more certain that it has been of late.

Huddersfield’s greater possession did not amount to better chances – and in a pleasant change of pace it was the home supporters who grew more frustrated as the interval approached.

Bolton had a big penalty shout turned down early on after Collins hit the deck under pressure from Tom Lees. Referee Paul Howard gave a free kick the other way for a foul a yard back by Lolos.

And they had the best chances of the half too, Adeboyejo pulling a left-footed shot narrowly wide after creating some space for himself in the box, and Collins also passing on a chance to shoot after a another swift counter attack which saw him get the wrong side of Radinio Balker.

Jacob Chapman also pulled off a stunning save from Collins’ close-range header – albeit one scrubbed out by the offside flag .

But the main thrust of the half was the more committed and organised defending being offered by the men in green. Will Forrester got his head to anything inside the penalty box and the two wide defenders, Schon and Dacres-Cogley, also held steady under pressure.

The question on everyone’s lips at the interval was: ‘Can this be sustained?’ Even in the toughest times under Evatt the Whites could turn in an impressive 45 and then find a way to undo their good work.

Ten minutes after the restart we had our answer, as Collins nudged them ahead.

Thomason and Dacres-Cogley combined just outside the Huddersfield box to nudge the ball through for Colins, who produced a confident finish for his 14th of the season.

Heroes are quickly forgotten in football and Bolton’s travelling army made sure Dion Charles got the treatment once the new goalscoring king had put their side ahead.

Schon found himself treading a thin line after getting involved with home sub Lasse Sorensen and triggering a momentary fracas in front of the dugouts. It was no great surprise to see Darby take the Hungarian out of the firing line soon after, bringing on Jordi Osei-Tutu.

Huddersfield continued to exert pressure, although Bolton continued to defend their penalty box stoutly. Southwood made one impressive save to push away sub Callum Marshall’s low drive with 10 minutes left but the growing discontent among the home crowd was mirrored in reverse by the joyous Bolton support, now asking their former number 10: “What’s the score?”

Joel Randall came off the bench and very nearly stole a second goal as he flicked a header towards goal from Osei-Tutu’s cross.

With three minutes to go he passed up a real gift when he picked Herbie Kane’s pocket to bear down on Chapman’s goal, the home keeper making a vital block to keep his side in touch.

Things got really frantic towards the end, sub John McAtee picked out Randall with a perfect cross only for Brodie Spencer to throw himself in the way of a goalbound shot to make the block. When the ball was cleared, George Johnston tried an audacious lob which dropped just wide of the net with Chapman retreating.

The tension towards the end was palpable but when Southwood snatched a late cross-shot from Marshall, the celebrations never stopped.