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After being rewarded for all our hard work in the last two games, this season's somewhat underwhelming start has been forgotten.
It was also a good reminder to never leave a game early! Just like against Huddersfield two weeks ago, it would have been easy for us to take the point and run, but we pushed on and grabbed a deserved winner.
Cardiff, while no Birmingham or Wrexham, were a very good side and you can see why they're top of the league with the quality they have. We did extremely well adapting to their game while also playing to our strengths.
We're now just five points off top and right in the mix. It's a tight league that I imagine will come down to the wire. If we can continue to ride this wave of momentum, there's no reason why we won't be the team leading the way come the end of the season.
I remember just over two weeks ago people saying Amario Cozier-Duberry had been found out, Fergal Harkin's transfer policy wasn't working and that Steven Schumacher needed to overhaul is tactics. It's always funny how fast things can change in football.
Looking ahead to this weekend, it's imperative we don't slip up. We've all seen what happens as soon as we lose any kind of momentum.
I always think it's important to take the cup seriously. Mostly because I live in a fantasy world where I always believe we'll get a good draw. It's not exactly the draw we wanted this weekend, and to make matters worse, they've closed the West Stand! Here's hoping we get a Harrogate or Bromley away in the next round to make this weekend worthwhile.
It will also be a good opportunity to give those who haven't been featured recently a good run out.
Tyler Miller starts in net, for me. Chris Forino should also get a start alongside Richard Taylor.
Aaron Morley should also be in the first 11 and how good it would be to see Kyle Dempsey return to the team sheet.
I'd put Amario in bubble wrap this weekend and give Charlie Warren a shot. He seemed really promising during pre-season and I'd like to see him get a chance.
Up front, Sam Dalby should lead the line ahead of Marcus Forrs, with Mason Burstow rested.
Ultimately, whether we win this weekend or not doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things. Our number one priority should be the league. But as we've seen so many times already this season, it's important we keep this momentum going.
By Chris Evans
Celebrations after the late Cardiff winner (Image: CameraSport - Harry McGuire)
I was still on a high from the Huddersfield game as I jetted off on my trip to the Far East.
With public transport unusually on time I just about made the early kick off for the Cardiff game and stayed in my seat, despite the jet lag, to see Cozier-Dubbery score his wonder goal winner. Over the following 48 hours, all of the top teams bar Stockport stumbled leaving the table looking much better for Bolton.
We are now about a third of the way through the season so it is probably a good point to reflect on where we are. The answer is, I honestly don't know. Performance wise, points wise and place wise, you have to be happy. You have to assume that the turnover of players might have taken time to bed in, so any points per game average seen so far should only be improved on.
Early pace setters Bradford and Stevenage will surely run out of momentum and assume a more realistic position as the season moves on. Likely contenders such as Luton, Huddersfield and Barnsley appear to be labouring too, with the likes of Plymouth and Blackpool way off the pace.
It all bodes well, but we are still playing catch up and only a few weeks ago were being given a thumping from Burton and Northampton. If we can remove the soft underbelly in the games of attrition away from home, then you would have to say we should make the top six and could make the top two.
However, a tough November lies ahead and by the time people start opening their advent calendars, we might be mid-table again, bemoaning the lack of consistency.
Dalby is going to be a great addition as seen in recent weeks and if Randall plays like he did on Saturday, it will be like having another new player in the squad.
Dempsey is still to come back into the fold and the squad is looking healthier than it has in a long time. Let's get past Port Vale and then we will really see where we are after playing Stevenage, Bradford and Luton.
By Aaron Berriman
After the drama of Huddersfield, a 12:30 showdown hosting the league leaders couldn't have come at a better time to try and use the momentum from the trip to Yorkshire to propel ourselves to another big three points.
Regarding the gaffer, he seems to have got to grips with the players at his disposable and having the pleasure of naming an unchanged team, he seems to have found a starting XI that he is comfortable with and trusts to get the job done.
Sitting in seventh in the league before the day's play, we had the chance to put some daylight between us and the chasing pack. As much as Schumacher has emphasised the fact that the table isn't to be looked at yet, we must at least know what we need to do to get ourselves into the positions that we want come May next year.
I've lost count of the number of times I've said this since September, but what can't Amario Cozier-Duberry do? Just as the game looked as if it was going to pieter out into a stalemate, up stepped our number 19 to deliver another moment of magic to show to the rest of the league that we will fight until the end. As much as I hate to say it, we must enjoy these moments while we can because they aren't going to last forever, or will they?
On another positive, George Johnston had probably his best game in a Wanderers shirt for a while. Having been the man at fault for the goal at Huddersfield, he bounced back brilliantly to put up a resolute partnership with skipper Eoin Toal and allow very little in the way of threat on Teddy Sharman-Lowe's goal.
Looking ahead, a home tie to Huddersfield in the first round of the FA Cup awaits and, you never know, a cup run could be on the cards with a positive result.
That man again... our little magician. Quite simply, where would we be without our 'cheat code'?
Lincoln City, Leyton Orient, Huddersfield, and now Cardiff. Eight points gained from the man himself, Amario Cozier-Duberry. A stunning last minute equaliser and now two added time winners.
No question about it, we just need to enjoy his contributions while he's a Bolton Wanderers player. Keeping him fit and at our club past January is of vital importance for our progression this season.
He is absolutely loving it here and in a very special group of loan players us fans have fallen in love with - James Trafford, Conor Bradley and Paris Maghoma to name a few of late.
Last Saturday's game wasn't a game for the purists, more a game of chess. However, it was great to see Bolton's discipline, structurally stable and solid, particularly at the back.
That clean sheet will do our defence and goalkeeper a world of good for confidence and when we defend as a team, we are as tough as anyone to break down in this league. That kind of display, along with the one at Huddersfield, can really lead this team on and help us start to climb that table.
Speaking of the table, with us being the early game on Saturday, I thought it put down a real marker winning against Cardiff like we did and now being five points off first place.
If this is the time to start putting some serious results together then quite frankly, there is no better time than now. Before December we face Stevenage, Bradford and Luton Town. Exciting times, I hope, lay ahead.
Coming onto Saturday's FA cup tie against Huddersfield. This game does give us a chance to see how a few of the lesser-used players can play and fit together.
Taylor, Dalby, Randall, Cissoko and Christie are all players I hope to see out there for the duration. Perhaps, even a substitute appearance from Dempsey, or even Forrester. Shall we give ACD the weekend off? I think he's earned it!
Whatever happens in the FA Cup, these sort of games will keep the whole squad ticking over and 'hopefully' give Schumacher a selection headache going forward. I hope these sort of games can prove that we now have strength in depth.