Ian Evatt believes Bolton Wanderers' work on the training ground is bearing fruit and has been hugely impressed with his team's improvement out of possession this season.
The Trotters have made a good start to the League One campaign. They sit eighth with 11 points from seven matches this season.
Bolton have already faced some of the early-season promotion favourites too and have, by and large, held their own. Evatt has particularly enjoyed the opportunity to work on the training ground in the early weeks of the season and outlined where his side have improved most.
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“It has been hugely competitive," Evatt said. "I am really enjoying what we are seeing on the training pitch and the work we have done has been fantastic this week.
“Having two elevens of equal strength is a real benefit and I do like the way the week is structured now, especially when games are Saturday and Saturday. Having the Tuesday and Wednesday as real work days, getting more into the players, has really benefitted us.
“So far this season the biggest improvement we have made is without the ball. I loved what I saw in terms of the press and counter-press.
"I think we are becoming a really good team out of possession. If you can add final third detail into what we are creating and finishing some of the those chances off, I think we have the makings of a good side.
“There is a huge amount of potential to be fulfilled with this group but I do think we are on our way. Predominantly we are an in-possession team and we want to control the game, break teams down, play through the lines.
"But sometimes it is not that easy and you are going have off-days with the ball, especially when you come up against the low block. You then need to become more dangerous without the ball.
“When the opposition regain possession and look to open up their shape a little bit then you need to be able to press, win the ball high up the pitch and play forwards in transition to break through and penetrate. That is where you become really dangerous and we are starting to see the fruits of the hard work in the summer on the training ground."
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