Bolton Wanderers manager Ian Evatt has a positive outlook ahead of the new League One season starting this weekend.
With his side's summer preparation now done, and all focus firmly on Ipswich Town away, Evatt has reflected fondly on Bolton's efforts over the last few weeks. Wanderers tested themselves against the Championship trio of Huddersfield Town, Watford and rivals Wigan Athletic - as well as playing friendlies against Longridge, Chorley, Stockport and Carlisle.
Bolton finished with a 1-1 draw at home to the Terriers, while they won at Watford but were edged out one-nil by Leam Richardson's team earlier this month. Evatt has been pleased by the work put in and is looking for his men to take on board what they learned against higher league opposition.
READ MORE : Bolton Wanderers pair return to full training
“I think we’re a good football team and I don’t really worry about these types of games," said Evatt. "I worry more about the others, but we have to find solutions. When you’re playing against a good opposition, we’ve beat Watford, we’ve lost to Wigan and drew here against Huddersfield.
"It’s really the fine margins, it’s the one per cents the higher you go, it’s the defining moments in games that really cost you. I think that moment at half-time with them escaping a throw-in press and then a cross and a header, you find yourself behind when there wasn’t really a lot in the game. So we have to manage those moments better, but I was really pleased with what we created second half, I thought we were excellent.”
He added: “I think we’ve had one blip really, the Carlisle game, but that can be a positive in that it gave us a wake up call to say that things aren’t always going to go to plan and it’s how you respond and I thought we responded brilliantly today (versus Huddersfield).
“I’m really pleased with our play, no doubting that. Speaking to the Huddersfield players coming off the pitch, I think they’re really surprised at the quality we’ve got and how we play and our beliefs and identity, so credit to the players. But we’ve got to go and do it now over a 46 game season.”
Don't miss a thing from the club you love! For all the latest updates on Wanderers , sign up to our free newsletter packed with all the latest news here.
