Azeem Abdulai went down under Jack Bonham’s challenge in the second half but referee Seb Stockbridge was satisfied that the Bolton goalkeeper had played the ball. That was also Steven Schumacher’s assessment of the incident.

Wellens had no complaints over the spot kick that won it for the Whites late on, though, after Abdulai handled in the box.

“We got a sucker blow straight after half time and we responded well, and a sucker blow in the last minute. But for me, the turning point of the game was the stonewall penalty,” he said.

“He chips it over to the goalkeeper. The goalkeeper runs out. In what world do we live in where that is not a penalty? 

“I was convinced at the time. I watched it back, I didn’t need to watch. You have a feeling – even our penalty against, I knew it was.

“I had that feeling that it was a penalty. Obviously, you radio up and they confirm that it’s a penalty. 

“I’ve been in the game a long time and your gut, that’s a penalty. I knew he chipped it over the goalkeeper. I knew it. But what do we do? I don’t think the referee would give us anything all day.”

Despite his frustration, Wellens felt there were plenty of positives to take from the performance at the Toughsheet Stadium.

“I thought we were really good,” he added. “A lot of teams come here and (Bolton) dominate the ball against them, they have them penned in. It’s a low block. 

“I thought we pressed them high. The amount of times that they obviously turned the ball over, they kicked out of play or we forced them into a long cross-field pass and it went out of play, or back to the goalkeeper, it was numerous times. 

“We should be better in the moments that we have chances and around the box. I still think with their quality, they still had a few moments where you’re a little bit worried because they’ve got two good wingers.

“But I’ve not seen Bolton play like that or a team be as aggressive and as good against them. We need to make more chances from the situations that we get in. 

“Two shocking goals to give away. One transition where we shouldn’t step, we do. And then obviously the penalty is a disappointment.”