Bolton Wanderers will be aiming to return to winning ways this weekend when focus returns to League One and a long trip to take on Plymouth Argyle.
The Whites were in midweek action in front of the TV cameras against Premier League side Aston Villa. The League One side took the lead but bowed out of the competition after the top flight side came from behind to secure a 4-1 triumph.
But this weekend, Bolton make the long journey down to the West Country to Home Park aiming to return to winning ways in the league. Defeat at home to Sheffield Wednesday was suffered last time out in League One.
READ MORE: Bolton 'offered players' after Aston Villa loss as Wanderers boss Ian Evatt gives transfer update
Ahead of the game, Wanderers boss Ian Evatt spoke to the media at a pre-match press conference and here's a transcript of what he had to say on a range of topics to broadcasters.
You go to Plymouth in a confident mood?
“We’re always trying to be confident. It’s obviously not ideal following two really tough home games to have this trip on a bank holiday weekend.
"A long, long away for us, especially with it being bank holiday, but obviously the club have done everything they can for us and we’ll be splitting the journey up over two days and travelling on Thursday to Bristol, training Friday in Bristol and then doing the rest of the journey following that training. I’m really grateful to the board for supporting us with that because it makes a difference.”
Do you have to get a different type of thinking cap on in terms of team selection?
“Yeah. We’re always thinking about selection and what tweaks to the system we can make. Last night we went a double pivot and 10 and sometimes we’ll be a pivot and two eights. It just basically means how our midfield is formulated so you lay with two holders and one number 10 or one holder or two number eights.
“It depends on the opposition and how they play and how they try to build from the back, but we’ve got good flexibility. Plymouth, we know quite well from last year and seems to be pretty much the same this year so we’ll formulate a plan which might mean us changing a little bit but we’re looking forward to it.”
How is everybody generally feeling?
“I think the lads are in a really good place. I think they enjoyed last night. I thought it was extremely harsh the scoreline in the end and I think we were on the rough end of a couple of moments that affected us and our confidence and raised their confidence level. First half in particular I thought we were excellent.
“No backwards step, we were on the front foot and that should be remembered and not the final 20 minutes really because I think for 60 minutes against pretty much their best team we were well in the game.”
Transfer deadline is not too far away? Are you still looking?
“Always looking. Myself and Chris (Markham) have been discussing things today and looking at things so we’ll see how that pans out. I’m not going to sit here and make any promises but we’re always looking to improve and looking to be active.”
Would this time possibly mean some players heading out to get game time elsewhere?
“Possibly, it just depends because we need to balance the squad out and we’ve got a lot of players at the moment. Even today, I’ve been offered some players that I didn’t think we’d be capable of getting to be honest.
“Financially they might not be right for us but the fact that they watched us last night and seen a bit of us has kind of put us in the shop window where people want to come and play and be a part of this and they saw the fanbase, they saw the stadium, they saw it was rocking, so it’s great that we’re having that appeal to people. We'll look at things and try and improve as best we can. Always looking to be active but no promises.”
You must be pleased to see Dion Charles back on the scoresheet?
“Yeah, Dion is a big, big player for us in and out of possession. The intensity he presses with really helps the team, and obviously he is a goalscorer and he knows where to be. Pleased for him to get off the mark for the season and hopefully he can carry that through to the league form.”
Can you take positives from the fact Villa needed two set-plays to take the lead?
“In the first half, they didn’t really create too much at all. The set-play gave them some belief and confidence back, but before that I thought we were excellent.
"We were on top and they really struggled to play through us. I think it speaks volume for our squad that we can make six changes and they make very few, and we are still able to compete which is good. It is a great learning curve and experience for us all.
"The most important thing to come out of all of this is that Bolton is back in the headlines for the right reasons, and not the reasons it has been in the not too distant past. Let’s have some perspective and celebrate that. We want more of those, but now we must concentrate on the league.”
What lessons have your learned from the game?
“I have learned we are not going to face Coutinho, Ings, Buendia and Watkins every week, which is a positive! Add to that Douglas Luiz and John McGinn, it is nice that they are not in League One week in, week out!
"But no, as I said it was a fantastic experience for everybody really. The club has benefitted from it immensely. The vibe that was portrayed for TV, and the wider public looking at where we are now from where we were, is a great story. That is what we should remember.”
Joel Dixon has had a bit of criticism. Does he deserve a good deal of support?
“He absolutely deserves support. He made some good saves towards the end of the game, I thought he was really solid. That set-play, I believe there was some underhand tactics before it, some dark arts so to speak.
"A hell of a delivery, no two ways about that. And the second one, I think Ings initiated the contact. I think he has no chance of getting the ball anyway and I think was offside before that.
"The third one is obviously an error but again like all of our players, people do make mistakes in every walk of life and in every occupation. It is just that ours are highlighted in this industry. They need support because if you lambasted everyone who made a mistake in their life in whatever occupation they did, they would be frightened to death to go to work.
"We must make sure we support our players when they make a mistake, they have not done it on purpose. And obviously, they will hopefully produce their best form.”
Could it be a blessing in disguise to now be able to focus on the league?
“Not necessarily because we wanted to try and get through. We want to be in every competition but we have to be realistic. I think their squad was worth something like £260million and ours was £400,000.
"The likelihood is we are not going to win that game! But we gave it our best and for long spells, we rocked them a little bit which is what we set out to do. We wanted to be ourselves and play our game and our way. We did that and it wasn’t good enough, so congratulations to them but we move on and focus now on the league.”
How important is it that the Wanderers play their way heading down to Plymouth?
“We always play our way. How we perform in that way is really down to us. I think if we play our best game and we play to our level and standard – and our energy and intensity is how it was in the first 60 minutes [against Villa] – I think we are going to be a match for many teams.
"But there is no given right to do that. We have to go down there. Plymouth are a good side, they cause teams problems. They had a great season last year and they have started okay this season. We know it is going to be tough but we need to focus on ourselves and make sure we are ready to hit the ground running.”
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