Bolton Wanderers captain Ricardo Almeida Santos missed the win over Lincoln City due to the birth of his son as Ian Evatt passed on his congratulations to the skipper and his family over the new arrival.
Wanderers captain Santos was absent from the Bolton matchday squad which beat the Imps 3-1 last night at the University of Bolton Stadium.
George Johnston put Bolton ahead after the break after nodding home Aaron Morley's corner in the second half versus Micahel Appleton's side.
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But the Imps equalised via Cohen Bramall when his shot appeared to take a deflection and get past James Trafford.
However, a pair of substitutes in the form of Kieran Sadlier and Amadou Bakayoko came off the bench to ensure Wanderers picked up another crucial three points to make it six wins in a row at the University of Bolton Stadium and narrow the gap to the play-offs to five points.
Santos was not in the team owing to his partner giving birth to their second son and Evatt was pleased to come away with three points without his influential captain, as he sent the family his congratulations on the new arrival.
The Bolton boss pinpointed the sacrifices that the partners of players make and believes that sometimes, family comes before football with times such as those.
Evatt said: “Sometimes football comes second to family and what we have to remember is all these players have partners, wives, girlfriends, that sacrifice a lot and Rico’s missus has sacrificed and moved to the North West away from her family, away from her friends.
"They’ve already got a young son and sometimes it’s important that Rico gives her his all and that must take preference. She needs our support, she needs Rico’s support, it’s a magical thing for them and huge congratulations and I’m delighted that we’ve managed to win the game without him.
“She’s had the baby. I dread to think what it’s like giving birth! I don’t even want to start to talk about it to be honest, but huge credit to all women that go through it!
"Sometimes family has to come first and I’m over the moon that they’ve had their second son. Everything is good as I understand and everyone is fit, well and healthy, which is the most important thing and the boys have stepped up and managed to win the game tonight.”
Will Aimson filled the void left by Santos in the heart of defence and impressed when given the opportunity in the middle of the back three.
Evatt admits he asks a lot of central defenders with the expansive way he wants Wanderers to play, but felt that Aimson stepped up to the plate in the absence of Santos.
The Bolton boss said: “I think Lincoln ask you a lot of questions and sometimes you have to go man for man and defend one v one on half a pitch.
"We’re trying to high press and I thought the first 15 minutes, we almost nicked it and had a few chances on transition, but we’re asking a lot of our defenders to be able to defend one v one and huge spaces and they’re getting better at it, their confidence is improving. I thought Will was excellent.”
