Bolton Wanderers manager Ian Evatt has admitted that he is amazed to have their promotion fate back in their own hands ahead of their League One clash with Portsmouth at the Toughsheet Community Stadium tomorrow afternoon.
The Trotters looked to be out of contention for a top two finish last month when they lost 1-0 against their nearest rivals Derby County. They then followed that up by dropping two more points against Stevenage, although returned to winning ways in a thumping victory over Reading before a 2-0 triumph over Bristol Rovers.
Paul Warne’s side were the heavy favourites to earn a spot in the Championship after their narrow win at Pride Park, with the result seeing them open up a four-point gap over Bolton. However, they have won just once in four games since, meaning the North West-based side have closed the gap to two points having played a game less.
They host table-toppers Portsmouth tomorrow afternoon in the first of their finak four fixtures. A Pompey win would see them crowned champions and it promises to be raucous occasion in what could be one of the clashes of the season thus far. However, a victory for the home side would keep them firmly in control of their own destiny, a point Ian Evatt was quick to make:
“We’ll take some comfort that it’s back in our own hands because you want to own your own destiny and we’ve got that capability now,” he told the official club website.
“This league never ceases to amaze me and on any given day, anyone can beat anyone. We have four tough games to go and it starts with the toughest of all against Portsmouth – which we’re excited by and the occasion that it brings with the atmosphere from both sets of supporters.
“We’re still in there fighting and we’ve got a great chance and I think we’d have all snapped your hands off for this at the start of the season.
“Now it’s down to us to go and make it happen.”
Continuing, the 42-year-old voiced his determination to get the job done:
“One thing that I’m proud of is that, as a football club, we’ve progressed each and every year.
“We’re on the same points as last year with four games to go and we’ve been in an automatic promotion race virtually the entire season, but we know that all of those hard yards will go to waste if we don’t get this club into the Championship in the next few weeks.”
With Derby having a relatively simple run-in, Bolton will know the importance of three points tomorrow, especially as they still face a tough trip to Peterborough United on the final day of the season.
Writer’s View
Portsmouth will be in town tomorrow hoping to see their team crowned League One champions. However, Bolton will be backed by a heavy support in what is proving to be an incredibly exciting end to the end of the season.
Despite their game in hand, the Trotters are still considered underdogs in the fight for promotion, especially with Derby still having to play lowly Cambridge United and already-relegated Carlisle United. A win at the Toughsheet Community Stadium tomorrow afternoon would send a huge statement to their league rivals though, and it’s sure to be an enthralling encounter.
Be the first to comment