Bolton Wanderers host their first home game of the new League One season this weekend when they take on Wycombe.
Wanderers have the first League One clash at the University of Bolton Stadium this weekend against the Chairboys. Bolton began their season last weekend on the road with a draw versus Ipswich Town.
It will be the first time many Bolton fans will have been back for a game at the UniBol since the win over Fleetwood Town on the final day of last season back in April. Work has since taken place to spruce up the home of the Whites, as well as a new Fan Zone being installed outside for supporters to gather before and after a game.
READ MORE: Bolton Wanderers injury latest on Eoin Toal, Josh Sheehan & Lloyd Isgrove ahead of Wycombe
Before the encounter, Wanderers boss Ian Evatt spoke to the press looking ahead to the fixture. Here's a full transcript of what he told broadcasters prior to the clash.
Any injuries or unavailability?
“No, all good. Obviously, Josh and Lloyd are another week closer to playing. If there was a B Team fixture next week, they would have taken part in that. But there is a game the following week so that is probably where they will be blooded back into action.”
Is it going to be difficult to name your starting XI?
“Yeah. Every game offers something completely different and we are fortunate enough at the moment to have different players with different attributes to deal with different teams. That will be the case moving forwards. Wycombe provide a completely different challenge to what Ipswich did so that team will most likely be different.”
Is that moving forwards something on a week to week basis something that how you’re generally going to select the starting XI?
“I think it has to be. We do due diligence on every opposition and understand their strengths and weaknesses and try and pick a team to combat that. Wycombe provide a completely different test to Ipswich as I’ve said, so we need a certain type of player to be able to deal with that. We’ve got flexibility and fluidity within the system, but within our philosophy that will always remain the same, but there’s small tweaks and changes that we can make to be able to deal with Wycombe’s strengths and weaknesses and obviously we’ve got the game on Tuesday in the cup which we want to progress in.
“The players know the way I feel about them. There’s no wastage now in that group, I think everyone can now make a contribution and we trust them to make that whenever they’re called upon and they will be called upon this week.”
It’s going to be a busy week followed quickly by the game against Salford?
“I don’t know if anybody has had a look at our fixtures but they’re pretty rough for the first month of the season. It’s a pretty challenging start so we’re going to be well tested, that’s for sure and everybody will be needed and hopefully we can keep them all in one piece and ready to go.”
Good to be back at a spruced up UniBol?
“It really does look fantastic. The way that Neil (Hart) is at the forefront of and all of the staff, the effort and hard work that they’ve put into making this place look a lot better is outstanding and we’re really fortunate to be here and really looking forward to a fantastic atmosphere on Saturday.”
In terms of the ground and the Fan Zone it’ll be open for the first time?
“Amazing. I’ll be going on Friday to make sure it’s up to scratch and all singing and all dancing! We feel it will be and it’s a fantastic project and a great idea for our fans. I visited West Ham for the first time towards the end of last season and the atmosphere outside the stadium pre and post game was amazing with these Fan Zones and providing they’re treated respectfully, they can be great for supporters to engage and have football discussions and hopefully we can create that kind of atmosphere here and they can enjoy themselves, they deserve it.”
You said after the Ipswich game that you felt it was too early in the season?
“Myself and Kieran their manager had a really good chat pre-game and post-game and both felt the same as well. We both felt that it was a waste really, six weeks down the line we think it would have been a completely different game.
“I was pleased with the point on Saturday purely off the fact that we didn’t play great. If you’re not playing great then you don’t lose games and I think that’s a game we would have clearly lost last season, especially against the big teams in this division so we’ve obviously progressed.
“We got ourselves in front as well which is also something that we’re trying to do more of. The disappointment was just the way we were in possession especially second half, but there’s obviously reasons for that. Everybody was nervous, 30,000 away from home, Ipswich themselves are a good team, well coached, good press and I think they will probably feel the same way about us first half. Bar the set play we conceded from, I thought we were in control prior to that.
“It was a nervous encounter and I think both teams will be satisfied with a point, probably us moreso than them being at home, but we’ll take it and now we’ve got to progress because there’s some big challenges this month. It’s a really difficult start for us.”
It was noted by George Johnston that you did look a lot more dangerous out of possession. Is that something in pre-season in particular you have been focused on?
“We have. We’ve done a lot more work on out of possession because we feel that can create opportunities as well. We’ve always tried to be front foot intense team and play and press aggressively, especially high up the pitch.
“We’ve just done some tactical tweaks in the formation and the shape to try and make sure we get more pressure on the ball and more intense pressure and then get ourselves in good positions for transitions and I thought we did that on Saturday. It was just our first pass in transition wasn't crisp or good enough, our execution wasn’t there, but hopefully we can sharpen that up and progress throughout the season.”
Do you feel as though you’re seeing a good deal of evolution from the whole squad in coping with the physicality in League One?
“It’s something that we always want to do, is evolve and improve. I think since I’ve been at the club, that’s what we’ve done. We’ve obviously had a promotion and a top 10 finish for a newly promoted team which is tough to do.
“Our points total was pretty good. We didn’t get to where we wanted to get to, but it was another step in the right direction and now we have huge expectations and expectancy from outside the club but also within. We have to back those expectations up and that comes from hard work and positive performances on the pitch.”
We’ve got the debut of the Fan Zone this weekend and it sounds like it’s going to be a thrilling experience for anyone that comes down?
“We hope so but what we’ll also say is please bear with us, we’re trying to do the right things. The cashless stadium and the car parking scenario and the Fan Zone, we are trying to do the right things. When you’re trying to do so much at once there’s going to be teething problems so please don’t expect perfection from day one.
“But what we will do is strive and work tirelessly hard to make sure we give the fans the best possible experience pre post game and during the game. That’s my remit but I’m fortunate enough to be at the forefront and the face of the football club along with Sharon and I feel like it’s important that I give that message out that people are working incredibly hard behind the scenes to give the fans the best possible experience so please bear with us while we try and get things right.”
What do you make of Wycombe?
“They’re a good yardstick for this division. They got to the play-off final, they’re a team that is used to winning. We can speak about identities and philosophies, but the name of the game in football is to win and Gareth’s team are used to winning football matches, regardless of how they do it.
“We have to make sure that we do things our way and try and combat their strengths and they have many. They’re a good team and we must make sure that we’re on our A game and a bit better than what we were last week in possession.”
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.
READ NEXT:
