Ian Evatt believes the League One opening fixture for Bolton Wanderers on the road against Ipswich Town will be a tough one but that it will be hard for the Tractor Boys too.
Wanderers have discovered their schedule for the 2022/23 League One season and have a trip to Portman Road on July 30 as they kick off their new campaign. Bolton's first home game of the season will be the following weekend against defeated play-off finalists Wycombe Wanderers.
In their first 11 games Wanderers will also face Sheffield Wednesday, Plymouth Argyle, MK Dons, Peterborough United and Portsmouth. It is a tricky start of paper for the University of Bolton Stadium club, facing several of the sides that were either in the top half of the table or come down from the Championship.
READ MORE: Bolton Wanderers 2022/23 League One fixtures in full as season begins away to Ipswich Town
But though Evatt is aware of the challenge the Tractor boys pose, he believes it is a tough game for Ispwich too and he is looking forward to the challenge of the opening weeks of the campaign. Though he would like a good start to the season, there will be no panic if it does not materialise and pointed to the long run that is the campaign as a whole and that nothing is decided in the opening stages.
Speaking exclusively to the Manchester Evening News, Evatt said: "It's a tough start on paper, no doubt. But it's a tough start for both teams. I think both teams finishd the season very strongly.
"Kieran is obviously a young coach that I respect and got them playing in a certain way which is attractive and quite similar to the way we want to play and the idea. It's one we're looking forward to and then we know what's coming from Wycombe in the second game.
"It's a tough start but you have to play everyone at some stage so why not first up.
"It's just important for me to have consistency throughout the season. Obviously it eases people's anxiety if you get results early on. Last season we had a pretty good start and it was the October to January schedule which really put pay to our promotion hopes, but a fast start and continue it is obviously the dream.
"But there won't be any panic. The league title and promotions aren't won on the first or second game of the season. You want to go out there and play the way we do and try and win the game, but it's important this season we stay focused on the larger opportunity and the job that needs to be done and that's a full season."
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