IAN Evatt wants his Wanderers to focus entirely on Saturday’s game against Portsmouth, regardless of what occurs between Wycombe and Derby County tonight.
Though fans will be hoping that Kieran Sadlier and his teammates can help them by taking points off their opponents at Adams Park, Evatt and Bolton will not let the outcome influence their approach for another season-defining encounter.
Pompey’s visit to the Toughsheet Stadium has long been seen as the ultimate test of the Wanderers’ promotion prospects, and the Bolton manager is determined to pass it.
But, whether Derby wins, loses or draws in Buckinghamshire, he says that his preparations for the weekend will remain unchanged.
“All we can do is win our games and apply some pressure,” he told The Bolton News. “Derby have a manager who understands how to win at this juncture of the season, so it will be difficult, but all we can do is focus on ourselves and our own business, win the remaining games, and give ourselves a chance.
“We have a chance, but it is only that. We are dependent on others, which is not where we wanted to be. But four more wins bring us to 93 points, and if you don’t get promoted with that, you’re very unlucky.”
Wanderers intend to take full advantage of the fact that their next three games are at home, with Evatt hoping to recreate the same incendiary atmosphere that they produced against Reading.
After squandering a couple of points at Stevenage on Good Friday, the Whites rebounded to produce two results that preserved the margin between them and second place at a single point, with the Rams leading by two goals.
That deficit could widen by the time Bolton face Pompey, and Evatt has once again urged fans to help keep his team motivated.
I’m proud of the players because we know it’s win or bust right now, and there’s a lot of pressure on them,” he remarked. “To come together after some adversity and go again, with a big win on Monday and another big win at Bristol Rovers, is hugely important.”
“All we can do is take care of our own business, get the Toughsheet rocking as much as we can, and raise that scary environment to a fever pitch, making it noisy and extremely tough for the opponents. That will make it easier for us to accomplish our tasks.
“We need assistance elsewhere, but we know that may happen in this game. Let’s truly get behind these three home games next week These players will give it their best.”
Derby faced Wycombe at Pride Park in mid-December, and the game finished 1-1. Luke Leahy converted a stoppage-time penalty after Tom Barkhuizen put the Rams ahead on 86 minutes.
