Ian Evatt is expecting a reaction from this weekend’s opponents Stockport County after they were embarrassed by Wycombe Wanderers on Tuesday evening, according to The Bolton News.
Stockport went down 5-0 against the top-of-the-table Chairboys at Edgeley Park but Evatt is wary of their response.
Things Will Be Different
Evatt insists things will be different when Bolton arrives in Stockport, claiming the local rivalry will bring a different County side for his team to contend with.
“I would expect a huge reaction from Stockport. The atmosphere will be different.”
“…the place will be bouncing on Saturday. It’s a local derby, there is a little bit of needle and history there, I would expect a much more difficult opponent than Wycombe got.”
Bad Times Will Happen
Evatt, who watched the game on Tuesday, has likened it to when his side were comprehensively beaten 4-0 at home by Huddersfield Town.
Since that defeat, Bolton has only lost once in the league winning six of the eight matches. Evatt expects Dave Challinor’s side to react similarly.
“I was there Tuesday and we have been part of a similar performance in the Huddersfield game and since then we have had a huge reaction and gone on a pretty good run in the league.”
“Dave will be feeling how I felt post-Huddersfield, and I listened to his post-match interview and I thought it was excellent, very honest. He is a good guy, Dave, and he knows what he is doing.”
“You have bad times and it is about how you respond to them which defines how you are as a person, a character and a leader. I think he will be looking to lead in the next few days and I expect a very different Stockport County this weekend.”
Writer’s View
Stockport made a positive start to the season but their form of late has been inconsistent at best. They have managed just three wins in 11 league matches and just one in the last six, finding themselves 10th in League One.
It is not all doom and gloom for The Hatters as they remain just two points outside the playoff places and two points behind tomorrow’s opponents.
However, if they are to be serious promotion challengers, Challinor’s men need to halt the slide and what better way to do that than by beating Bolton?
