Bolton Wanderers boss Ian Evatt believes his side found a way to win in their pre-season friendly over Chorley but raised questions as to whether he would bring his first team squad to the traditional fixture in the future over the state of the pitch.
Wanderers were in action this afternoon against the National League North side for their second pre-season friendly. They travelled to Victory Park on the back of a 9-0 win over Longridge Town on Tuesday evening.
They went in 2-0 up at the break thanks to goals from Dion Charles and Jon Dadi Bodvarsson. Elias Kachunga added a third after the break before Connor Hall grabbed one back for the Magpies before full-time in a 3-1 victory.
READ MORE: Bolton Wanderers player ratings vs Chorley: Dion Charles, Aaron Morley & MJ Williams good
The performance from Wanderers, particularly in the second half, was not quite the heights it had been on Tuesday versus Longridge and Evatt cut a frustrated figure on the touchline at times. The Bolton boss believes his side must get over mental challenges when they are confronted with them away from home and cannot play their normal style, as they surely will be at some stage in the upcoming campaign.
But he was pleased that they managed to find a way to win on the tricky afternoon against the National League North side. He admitted the players who began the second half looked fatigued and is looking forward to seeing further progression with his side.
He said: "I have to choose my words wisely. I said to the players before the game - at times this season when we go away from home, we are going to be challenged. Most of it is challenging mentally. Everything we want to do and be, you are really going to find it difficult when you turn up and the conditions are how they are. But there are also things that we can get out of it as well.
"We are going to have to get over that mental block. We are going to go to places where things aren’t going to be how we want them to be and then we have to find a way to win. And we have done that today, there is no denying that.
"I think first half was a lot better than second half. I think, especially when teams sit off in a low block and you can’t move the ball quickly, it is challenging and again we have to find a way. A set-play was pleasing second half. But the players, especially the ones second half, look fatigued and tired.
"We have worked them so hard. Yesterday was three sessions again, but we will see the benefits of that. We have had a good week with two solid wins and now we are going to have to progress to better opposition and see improvements."
Evatt was frustrated with the pitch at Victory Park and the length of the grass which meant play to their usual standard was difficult on such a surface. Evatt understands opposition clubs making playing surfaces difficult by not watering them.
But he admitted frustration at 'Amazonian' surfaces like they found at Victory Park and hinted Wanderers may monitor what they do with their pre-season in future regarding the fixture and asked for clubs such as Chorley to give the League One side something back in return. The game is a traditional fixture between both sides and Evatt brought his entire first team squad for this afternoon's game, compared to a mixture of squad and youth players last season.
He called on the Magpies to not 'take advantage' of Wanderers and the National League North side to 'show that same respect' which the League One side showed them, which he felt was lacking. But overall, Evatt was 'relatively happy' with another win on the board and more minutes in the legs for his players.
He said: "I am just a little bit frustrated. I try to pay local clubs respect by bringing the first team. They ask me to bring the first team, I bring the first team – all of our best players. Our fans come in their numbers as they always do, paying hard-earned money. It is a two-way street and if they want us to keep coming back then they have to give us something in return. It can’t all be the same direction and I feel today it has all been in one direction, so maybe we will have to monitor what we do next season.
"I understand dry pitches, absolutely. I understand not watering it. But when it becomes Amazonian, it is frustrating. And it is a frustration of mine because as I said, as a football club we are trying to do everything right. We bring our best players, we want to help these local teams – of course we do.
"Our fans again showed great loyalty and respect by coming to watch us play at one of the local clubs that we are trying to help and build relationships with. But please don’t take advantage of that is what I am trying to say.
"Please show that the same respect as what we are showing you, and I don’t think we have been given that today. But the players have learned valuable lessons, it is some more mileage in the legs, we have found a way to win. So overall, relatively happy."
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