Before the international break, the Bolton manager felt that the defeat against Derby County was unfair, so early the next morning, he had to do some introspection.
The Rams held a sizable lead in the battle for second place after Kane Wilson’s header in the 78th minute felt like a turning point.
And after a Pride Park performance he had felt mostly satisfied with, Evatt wondered what more might be done.
He declared, “I didn’t sleep a wink that night.” “I was experiencing a wide range of emotions. How unjust was it that despite our best efforts, we were unable to win the game? Examining past choices, the set play, the system’s weak point, and its eventual outcome. I discovered that all I was doing was seeking justifications.
I slapped myself across the chops at around three in the morning and told myself to stop. All we have to do is get better, to get better again.
We need to be more ruthless and clinical if it means we have to take more chances because we are getting there so frequently.When a team is among the top scorers in the nation and has already scored well over 100 goals, it is difficult to be critical of them. However, I believe we need to and can do better.
“We need to brush up on some other aspects of the game, but overall, I think we’ve played really well over the last few weeks. We’ve worked hard on that this week.
“We didn’t get what we deserved in the Wigan vs Derby game, but that’s football.” Hopefully, we will receive what is rightfully ours after the past seven games.
The Derby loss dropped Bolton to third place, and if Peterborough United and Barnsley won their remaining games, they could draw level on points.
However, Paul Warne’s team’s shocking loss to Northampton Town last Saturday gave Bolton, Barnsley, and Peterborough some serious motivation ahead of Easter weekend.
Evatt continued, “I didn’t think it was over and I have been really encouraged by our performances of late,” as his team got ready to play Stevenage on Good Friday at the Lamex Stadium. “Those performances probably didn’t earn us the points we deserved, but we think that if we keep playing that way, the wins will come.”
“Twists and turns, highs and lows, will still exist. We are aware that time is running short and that it is essentially necessary at this point, but I am happy with the players’ current status and have been for some time. It hasn’t been easy to lose some of the important players and just now be able to get them back. However, we must play the game and
respect whatever nation they are called up for.
“They are ready to go, and they know what is needed.”
