Kevin Nolan was grateful for the warm reception on his return to Wanderers – but the Northampton boss was ultimately frustrated to leave empty-handed.

The Cobblers had some decent spells after Liam Shaw’s equaliser but ended up with nothing to show for their efforts at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.

“I got a bit emotional at the end when they all started singing the name and everything else,” said Nolan. “It was a fantastic time here.

“No-one can ever take that away from me and I thank them for such a warm and lovely welcome.

“I found (being in the away dugout) really strange, I must admit. But I knew it was going to be such a nice atmosphere, it is always a great atmosphere here.

“Walking out tonight and getting that nice ovation from the fans, and them recognising how many special memories we have got here and what we had at that time.

“It was nice for me but I am disappointed, I must admit, because I have not got the result or a result that I thought we probably deserved.”

Nolan was up against Julian Darby in the dugout as Wanderers’ interim boss made it two wins from two.

“Julian has been around the club for years and, obviously, a legend in his own right,” the former skipper added. “So I am delighted he has had two fantastic wins as caretaker boss.

“He has done a great job and steadied the ship when a lot of people were talking about it being a bit of a tough time.

“He has done a great job for the person who is going to be walking in the door or if they decide to give it to him.”

There was not much between the sides in the second half until Aaron Collins’ moment of magic wrapped up the result.

“Obviously, a bit disappointed in conceding the early goal in the manner of what we did,” said Nolan. “I am sure it wasn't a corner, but I am not going to harp on about that.

“You get the character that the lads showed to come back into the game and the quality of the goal, and then to lose the goal just before half-time.

“You come in at 1-1, it is a totally different sort of mindset and team talk. But I thought in the second half, we dominated in lots of periods. We knew that Bolton would put it in behind us and we had to be aware of that.

“They hit us on the break and then you have seen their quality and what they possess. But I thought, again, it was a much better performance in possession.

“Can we eradicate those goals? I am pretty sure we can, and that is probably the most disappointing of this evening.”