GETHIN Jones could finally breathe a sigh of relief after helping Wanderers over the line to promotion.

The full-back – who has been one of Bolton’s most consistent players through the whole campaign – could afford to chuckle after a comprehensive win at Crawley sealed a place in League One.

Having clawed back a massive deficit on the top three, climbing from 20th to third in less than half a season, the Whites made it look easy on the final day with a resounding 4-1 score-line.

But Jones admits there were occasions in the last several months where things were decidedly less comfortable.

“We really did make it difficult, didn’t we?” he laughed.

“As defenders, we were saying ‘flippin heck lads, we haven’t scored four all season and we’ve done it on the last day!’ “We’re absolutely made up. I think at the start of the season we were still playing good football but it wasn’t going our way and we were making sloppy mistakes, conceding goals.

“We changed a few things defensively from corners, like Rico defending them and not marking anyone. It was little things like that which have worked out.

“From January onwards we’ve been unplayable.”

With so much riding on the outcome for Wanderers and no margin for error the pressure going into the weekend’s game at Crawley was considerable.

The defeat against Exeter City had hit the dressing room hard but Jones felt the disappointment actually acted as a catalyst for the performance.

“It was a real kick up the arse for all of us really,” he said. “Last Saturday we were going into it thinking this could be it today and there was a bit more celebration.

“We knew we were going to come here and blow them away. They didn’t have much to play for today but sometimes that can be a difficult game because sometimes they can be more relaxed in playing and try different things. But we knew in the first 20 or 30 minutes, if we were at it then we’d win the game.

“I don’t think Crawley have lost to a top nine team all season at home and that’s the things we do. We went to Salford and beat them at their home patch. We came here today and did it again so it’s credit to all the lads and we have all stuck together. Last week was very difficult but we worked hard all week and got our rewards today.”