Summary

  • Papa Johns Trophy final: Bolton 4-0 Plymouth

  • Bolton win the competition for the first time since 1989

  • Dempsey heads in early opener for Bolton, Charles slots home second

  • Kachunga fires in third just after break, Jones powers in number four

  • Get involved: Tweet #bbcefl

  1. Argyle fans leavingpublished at 16:45 British Summer Time 2 April 2023

    Bolton 4-0 Plymouth

    Brent Pilnick
    BBC Sport at Wembley

    Plymouth fansImage source, PA Media

    It's a long journey back to Plymouth, and some of their supporters are already starting their journey with 10 minutes or so to go.

    You cannot really blame them - a first-ever appearance in the final of this competition has turned into a nightmare for them.

    It could, and should be worse, as Bolton could quite easily be five, six or even seven goals up.

  2. SUBSTITUTIONSpublished at 82 mins

    Bolton 4-0 Plymouth

    Two more Bolton players come off to standing ovations.

    Aaron Morley and the excellent Josh Sheehan make way for MJ Williams and George Thomason.

  3. Postpublished at 16:43 British Summer Time 2 April 2023

    Bolton 4-0 Plymouth

    John McGinlay
    Ex-Bolton striker on BBC Radio Manchester

    Bolton players celebrateImage source, PA Media

    The owners have come in and transformed the football club. They have come in, put their faith in Ian Evatt and this is the icing on the cake for them today.

  4. Postpublished at 80 mins

    Bolton 4-0 Plymouth

    Plymouth captain Joe Edwards shoots narrowly wide from just outside the box.

    This game has pretty much turned into Bolton fans jubilantly celebrating - the match itself has become a sideshow.

  5. Postpublished at 77 mins

    Bolton 4-0 Plymouth

    Almost a fifth for Bolton - it looked like Cameron Jerome was well-placed to shoot but he unselfishly found Elias Kachunga, who dragged his effort wide.

    Wanderers lost 5-0 on their last Wembley trip in 2011 - an FA Cup semi-final against Stoke - this will go some away to healing those wounds.

  6. SUBSTITUTIONSpublished at 74 mins

    Bolton 4-0 Plymouth

    Plymouth make their fifth and final change at the same time as Bolton make their first substitutions - that says it all.

    It's Mickel Miller on for Bail Mumba for Argyle.

    The Wanderers changes are met with much more noise as their main men Dion Charles and Kyle Dempsey are replaced by veteran striker Cameron Jerome and Kieran Lee.

  7. Can Bolton get a record?published at 16:33 British Summer Time 2 April 2023

    Bolton 4-0 Plymouth

    Brent Pilnick
    BBC Sport at Wembley

    No side has ever won the EFL Trophy final by a four-goal margin in the history of the competition.

    Bolton's 3-0 loss to Bristol City in 1986 is the joint heaviest defeat, along with the Trotters' 4-1 win over Torquay United three years later.

    Blackpool beat Cambridge United 4-1 in 2002 while Southampton were 4-1 winners over Carlisle United in 2010.

    Only four sides have scored four goals in the history of the final.

  8. Postpublished at 70 mins

    Bolton 4-0 Plymouth

    There's a rare sight of goal for Plymouth but top scorer Ryan Hardie fires into the side-netting from a tough angle.

    A pass to Finn Azaz or Sam Cosgrove might've been the better option there.

  9. Postpublished at 16:30 British Summer Time 2 April 2023

    Bolton 4-0 Plymouth

    Martin Gritton
    Ex-Plymouth striker on BBC Radio Devon

    Plymouth have got to make sure this doesn't affect the league. If anything they need to use this as a warning for what can happen if you don't do things right.

  10. Postpublished at 16:30 British Summer Time 2 April 2023

    Bolton 4-0 Plymouth

    Here come the oles from the Bolton supporters.

    It's been the performance of a Championship-level side - keep this up and they have every chance of going up through the League One play-offs next month.

  11. Postpublished at 16:29 British Summer Time 2 April 2023

    Bolton 4-0 Plymouth

    John McGinlay
    Ex-Bolton striker on BBC Radio Manchester

    What a statement performance this has been from Bolton Wanderers.

    Hopefully this will be the catalyst that will see them go on and win promotion.

  12. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 67 mins

    Bolton 4-0 Plymouth

    Plymouth have pretty much run out of attacking options on their bench - they ran out of ideas on the pitch long ago this afternoon.

    Brendan Galloway replaces Macauley Gillesphey in the left centre-back position.

    I imagine the Argyle boss, players and fans just want this to end now, but there's still 25 minutes to go.

  13. Postpublished at 16:26 British Summer Time 2 April 2023

    Bolton 4-0 Plymouth

    John McGinlay
    Ex-Bolton striker on BBC Radio Manchester

    Gethin Jones celebrates Bolton's fourthImage source, PA Media

    He's put his full head on that and he's found the bottom corner. The keeper had no chance.

  14. goal

    GOAL: Bolton 4-0 Plymouthpublished at 62 mins

    Gethin Jones

    Bolton are home and hosed.

    It's their second goal from a corner - the delivery once again is on the money and Gethin Jones, who spent a brief spell on loan at Plymouth in 2015, outmuscled his marker to powerfully head home.

    Ian Evatt's Wanderers have been absolutely excellent.

  15. Postpublished at 16:22 British Summer Time 2 April 2023

    Bolton 3-0 Plymouth

    John McGinlay
    Ex-Bolton striker on BBC Radio Manchester

    Bolton celebrateImage source, Rex Features

    Bolton don't need to over-commit going forward, they can sit in their shape and rely on the pace of their front men on the counter-attack.

    If you can't enjoy a game when you're winning 3-0 at Wembley, I don't think you'll ever enjoy a game.

  16. Postpublished at 59 mins

    Bolton 3-0 Plymouth

    In the last 16 of this year's competition Plymouth trailed 3-0 at half-time to AFC Wimbledon, with a Sam Cosgrove hat-trick taking it to a penalty shootout - which the Pilgrims won.

    Surely lightning couldn't strike twice, could it?

    They've got to defend this Bolton corner first.

  17. Postpublished at 57 mins

    Bolton 3-0 Plymouth

    Understandably the pace of the game has dropped, now Bolton are halfway to the trophy.

    Less than five years ago, such a feat seemed impossible as they neared oblivion before a successful takeover.

    Plymouth have a corner as their supporters try to galvanise them.

  18. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 55 mins

    Bolton 3-0 Plymouth

    A third change for Plymouth.

    The ineffective Callum Wright is replaced by on-loan Aston Villa playmaker Finn Azaz.

  19. Postpublished at 54 mins

    Bolton 3-0 Plymouth

    Plymouth have shipped five goals in a game on three occasions this season - rare for a side fighting for a league title and cup crown.

    It shows they can throw in a horrible performance once in a while - Bolton have been absolutely great, but Argyle haven't done themselves any favours.

  20. Postpublished at 16:15 British Summer Time 2 April 2023

    Bolton 3-0 Plymouth

    John McGinlay
    Ex-Bolton striker on BBC Radio Manchester

    Elias Kachunga celebratesImage source, Rex Features

    Bolton have started the second half like they did the first.

    We did wonder whether they would have to weather a storm but that third goal has put paid to that.