Josh Vela and Tom Thorpe were on target as the Trotters got back to winning ways, leapfrogging Haris Vuckic’s Bradford City as a result.
The Bantams were beaten 3-0 at Southend United, with Vuckic an unused substitute at Roots Hall.
Elsewhere in League One, Jamie Sterry endured an afternoon to forget as Coventry City were sent crashing to a 4-1 defeat at Oxford United.
The U’s were 3-0 up after just 36 minutes at the Kassam Stadium, their second credited as a Sterry own goal after Kane Hemmings’ cross-come-shot ricocheted into the net off the young defender.
There was also disappointment for forward Ivan Toney, who was withdrawn at the interval as nine-man Shrewsbury Town lost 2-1 to Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.
Jim O’Brien and Abu Ogogo were both dismissed for the Shrews, who remain five points adrift of safety in the third-tier.
In League Two, Alex Gilliead was the only United loanee to figure, the winger helping Luton Town to a comfortable 2-0 win at Morecambe.
Gilliead racked up 86 minutes for the Hatters, who moved up to fourth in the standings with victory.
Having come face-to-face the previous week, neither Macaulay Gillesphey nor Kyle Cameron figured for their respective clubs on Saturday.
Gillesphey remained on the bench as Carlisle United hit back to beat Exeter City at Brunton Park, with Cameron absent completely as Newport County picked up an impressive 3-0 win at Notts County.
In the Championship, Adam Armstrong was withdrawn two minutes into added time in Barnsley’s 0-0 draw against Wigan Athletic at Oakwell.
Paul Woolston, meanwhile, returned to Blyth Spartans’ starting line-up against Stafford Rangers at Croft Park.
After being rested against Shaw Lane in midweek, the young stopper completed 90 minutes as Spartans were forced to settle for a point after letting a two-goal lead slip.
On the continent, there were mixed fortunes for the United contingent.
In France, Florian Thauvin played almost the entirety of Marseille’s 1-0 win over Caen at the Stade Velodrome.
The 23-year-old was replaced by Antoine Rabillard with just a minute remaining, L’OM moving up to 11th in Ligue 1 with victory.
They now sit just a point shy of Henri Saivet’s Saint-Etienne, who were beaten 1-0 by high-flying Nice on home soil.
Saivet completed all 90 minutes for Les Verts, who suffered just a third defeat of the campaign at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.
In Switzerland, Kevin Mbabu entered the fray with seven minutes remaining as Young Boys edged a seven-goal thriller at home to Sion.
Finally, in the Eredivisie, neither Siem de Jong nor Tim Krul figured for their respective clubs.
De Jong remained on the bench as PSV Eindhoven were held to a goalless draw at struggling Willem II, with Tim Krul sitting out Ajax’s thumping win over NEC Nijmegen as he continues his comeback from injury.
OUT ON LOAN
Siem de Jong - PSV Eindhoven (season-long loan)Tim Krul - Ajax (season-long loan)Henri Saivet - Saint-Etienne (season-long loan)Florian Thauvin - Marseille (season-long loan)Kevin Mbabu - BSC Young Boys (season-long loan)Emmanuel Riviere - Osasuna (season-long loan)Ivan Toney - Shrewsbury Town (loan until January)Macaulay Gillesphey - Carlisle United (loan until January)Adam Armstrong - Barnsley (loan until January)Jamie Sterry - Coventry City (loan until January)Haris Vuckic - Bradford City (loan until January)Sammy Ameobi - Bolton Wanderers (loan until January)Kyle Cameron - Newport County (loan until January)Alex Gilliead - Luton Town (loan until January)Tom Heardman - Hartlepool United (loan until January)Paul Woolston - Blyth Spartans (work experience loan)
