Simon Grayson was delighted to cap off a wonderful occasion with three points on Gentry Day.
The Club’s annual Gentry Day was held this afternoon, with fans kitted out in bowler hats and suits to remember PNE fans who’ve past away this year.
Bolton, who themselves have a relegation battle to concentrate on threatened to spoil the celebrations by taking the lead through Liam Trotter, who guided the ball into the left hand corner from the edge of the box to give the Wanderers the lead mid-way through the first-half.
But North End returned to the field rejuvenated, and just before the hour, Jordan Hugill drew the Lilywhites level, heading in Adam Reach’s cross to send the travelling Gentry behind the goal into raptures.
With five minutes left, North End sent the away fans bouncing with a combination of Eoin Doyle and Marnick Vermijl firing home from point blank range to give North End their first win against Bolton since 1992.
“It was a great way to celebrate Gentry Day,” said a smiling Grayson to PNE PlayerHD post-match.
"Ultimately we've got the result - I thought we started the game really well when Jordan [Hugill] had that header, did okay for 10-15 minutes but we petered along a bit for the rest of the half.
"We stopped playing and we weren't good enough with the ball - we had a few choice words at half-time because I don't want this season to peter along and to think we've got nothing to play for.
"But in the second half, we responded a lot better and we looked a real threat in the second half.
"It was a great atmosphere, and that's what local derby's are all about.
"I've got some close friends here at Bolton and I hope they get out of trouble, but we have to put our professional head on and that we look after ourselves and results like today can keep our season alive, and we'll see where it takes us."
For more reaction from Simon Grayson, as well as the views of Eoin Doyle and Marnick Vermijl over who scored the winner, head to PNE PlayerHD here.