Bolton Wanderers manager Ian Evatt has labelled his side’s performance against Stockport County “unacceptable” following a crushing 5-0 defeat that halted their recent rise in League One.
The loss at Edgeley Park saw the Trotters slide out of the top six after a promising run of form. The display angered fans and sparked concern over Bolton’s consistency.
Stockport Run Rampant
In a closely fought first half, Stockport edged ahead at the half-hour mark. Louie Barry orchestrated the opening, weaving his way down the left before pulling the ball back to Will Collar, who slotted it in with his left foot from close range.
Just after the break, Stockport doubled their lead. Barry’s cross found defender Fraser Horsfall, whose header was parried by Bolton goalkeeper Nathan Baxter, only for Kyle Wootton to seize on the rebound, firing decisively into the net. The goal set the tone for a tough second half for Bolton, with Horsfall heading home a corner shortly after to extend the lead to 3-0.
Louie Barry capitalised on Bolton’s shaky defence and questionable passing from the back to notch Stockport’s fourth. The final blow came in the 90th minute when substitute Odin Bailey finished off a polished move, curling a low shot into the corner, leaving Baxter with no chance and sealing an emphatic victory for the hosts.
Evatt’s Frustration
The heavy defeat underscored a frustrating inconsistency for Bolton, who had previously strung six wins from eight matches in a positive run. Evatt’s men, however, failed to replicate that form in the high-stakes derby against Stockport.
“That’s not acceptable. That’s as poor as it gets from start to finish. We’ve let everybody down again,” said Evatt. “We’ve worked so hard to build some momentum, put in some good performances of late and today we’ve just undone it all in 90 minutes really.”
Evatt didn’t shy away from expressing his disappointment, citing a lack of competitiveness and inability to win key pitched battles. Despite preparations being hampered by illness throughout the squad, the manager refused to use it as an excuse for the dismal showing, insisting that basic defensive errors and lack of intensity were major contributors to the result.
Writer’s View
Bolton’s rollercoaster season took a sharp dip at Edgeley Park, highlighting lingering issues with defensive cohesion and consistency under pressure. Evatt’s honest response shows a willingness to confront these challenges, but Bolton will need resilience and adaptability in the weeks ahead to reclaim their position in the top six and deliver a stable push for promotion.
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