Bolton Wanderers manager Ian Evatt has praised his side ahead of their League One clash with Cambridge United tomorrow night.
The Trotters suffered a dreadful start to the season, winning just one of their opening five games. That sole victory came on the opening day against Leyton Orient, and three successive defeats between August and September sparked rumours that a managerial change could be on the cards.
Since then, they’ve seen a resurgence in form, although a 5-0 loss at Stockport County before the international break threatened to derail their hard work. A tight game against Blackpool on Saturday saw Bolton return to winning ways, although it took a 94th minute winner from attacker Aaron Collins to secure the three points.
“Automatic Promotion Form”
Despite their recent upturn in fortunes, Bolton still sit ninth in the table. However, with those above them dropping points, they are now level on points with fifth-placed Huddersfield Town, with only goal difference keeping them out of the play-off places.
Ian Evatt takes his side to relegation-threatened Cambridge United tomorrow, knowing a win could see them move further up the table. Speaking to official club media, the 43-year-old was full of praise for his team:
“I thought we were outstanding and deserved to win the game (against Blackpool) and now we have to follow that through on Tuesday. In the last 10 games we’ve won seven and drawn one, which is second in the form table with 22 points and which is automatic promotion form.”
Continuing, Evatt urged his team to find a way to get over the line come May:
“Sometimes the biggest opponent can be yourself. We have to be mentally, physically, technically and tactically in the right space and place to give our best and give our best performance and if we can do that, we are a hard team to stop.
“We’re 15 games in and there’s a long, long way to go. I think this season is going to be incredibly tight and that includes everybody. Nothing I have seen so far makes me change that opinion. It’s the team that stays the course which is important, and we need to be that team.”
Writer’s View
Bolton’s currently league position can arguably be labelled as a false one due to their recent good form. The 5-0 defeat at Stockport resurfaced some beliefs about their frailties, but there is no doubting it was somewhat of a freak result. There was definitely an element of a ‘play-off hangover’ in their early season results, but on the evidence of Saturday, they’ll be in the mix again at the end of the season.
Head of Writing
