Bolton Wanderers host Morecambe tomorrow evening seeking to extend their unbeaten start to the new season.
Wanderers host Derek Adams' side at the University of Bolton Stadium in League One. The Whites will be aiming to build upon their positive start which sees them on five points from their first three games.
The Whites begin a run of home games now, starting with the Shrimps before taking on Sheffield Wednesday this Saturday and then hosting Premier League side Aston Villa in the second round of the Carabao Cup next Tuesday. Wanderers have a 100% win record so far at home and will be seeking to extend that.
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Before the encounter, Wanderers boss Ian Evatt spoke to the media at a pre-match press conference. Here's a full transcript of what he had to say to broadcasters.
This is the first of three home games?
“We’ve got a real big three games to come. The first one with Morecambe tomorrow night and then Sheffield Wednesday and the big cup game against Villa, so we’re very much looking forward to it.”
Does that illustrate your squad strength and having the ability to alter your team if necessary?
“Yes absolutely. We’ve got the strength in depth and the flexibility to be able to rotate things and change things up and try and keep people fresh. We will be doing that, no doubt about it, we have to do that. The lads put in an incredible shift on Saturday in awful conditions, so there’s a bit of tiredness out there this morning but very much looking forward to the game tomorrow night.”
You want to capitalise on the home form at the start of the season?
“Yeah and I think it’s been replicated that we’re playing well and doing well and giving it all we can. I think the club in general is in a really good place at the minute.
"I think the team’s performing well, the squad is strong, the fan base is incredible, the way they’re backing the team’s incredible and you’ve got lots of things happening off the pitch which is really positive for the football club, so it’s a really good place to be, but in these good times and good spells, you really need to capitalise and that’s what we need to do these next three games.”
Morecambe, what do you expect?
“We know what to expect. I think the game will be no different to the other games we’ve had here. It’s going to be close and it’s going to be hard fought. I want to see energy from our players, especially the ones that didn’t have to put in an incredible shift on Saturday.
"The other ones have hopefully recovered well enough to be able to go out there and play with our intensity on our home pitch with our home fans. We’re very much looking forward to it.”
Overall, what assessment would you give at this stage?
“I think we’re in a good place, nothing has changed that. I’m obviously disappointed with only the one point on Saturday, but in the circumstances, probably the best result really. But I think on Saturday with 11 men I think we take over the game and win comfortably.
"That didn’t happen, these things happen, and sometimes they shape your season, these moments of adversity and tough times, when you feel you’ve been on the rough end of some wrong decisions, you have to find a way to still get points and results and I thought we did that well on Saturday.”
The spirit and resilience you showed at Port Vale, do you see that in training?
“Yeah. I see a different look in the players’ eyes this season. I just think they’ve got an incredible amount of belief, incredible amount of confidence and there’s a real togetherness there. I think they can see that, even the lads on the bench.
“Dapo unfortunately was sacrificed at half-time because of the situation and he’s up on the side, shouting, screaming, supporting his team-mates, which is great to see. It matters to us all, it matters to everybody and I’m really liking what I’m seeing from them this season.”
Any unavailability?
“No. Josh Sheehan and Lloyd will play in the game at Fleetwood, which I’ll be going to watch and I’m very much looking forward to seeing them two back.
"George Thomason can play in that game as well so we can get some minutes for him and those are very much close to being back available for us and everyone else is fit and well apart from Rico.”
How much has the squad evolved to give a performance like on Saturday?
“This is probably easy to say but I think we would have lost that game last season, I genuinely think that. I think we would have found a way to chuck it away, to give a silly goal away and probably lose the game 1-0.
"We didn’t do that. Obviously, Traff made one really outstanding save but their keeper made a very good save first half and a very good one second half from Aaron Morley as well. But other than that, I thought we were relatively comfortable.
"I thought we defended well. They had possession but didn’t really affect us with that possession. Then, we had moments on the counter attack which we probably should have done better with.
"But in terms of the spirit, togetherness, the fight – it was very much there for all to see. If ever there was a question mark thrown at us as a team and our identity, then that was it and I think we are answering those questions pretty well at the moment.”
The strongest part of the squad right now in terms of depth might be the attackers…
“It is designed that way. It gives us the opportunity to chance then attackers. I spoke last week about how hard it is for attackers to press and play in our system.
"We need them to press, counter press, but also we need them to be good centre-forwards and make suer they are on the end of crosses, passes, they can link play. A lot is asked of them so it is good to have varied options against different opposition.
"I am really pleased with all our strikers. I think we have got a really good group. Dion will be back on Saturday, he is back training probably tomorrow. So yeah, everything is positive.”
If the squad is able to show the support that Dapo Afolayan gave after going off at half-time, it bodes well for the players on the field?
“Absolutely, and it wasn’t just Dapo. There was Kacha as well, who didn’t get on. He stood on the sideliens warming up but supporting his team-mates, willing them on and giving information out, which is important.
"Obviously, I wasn’t there and it is difficult to give information from the stands. But everybody knows what w e want and what we require – the staff and the players as well. It is good to see them encouraging each other and helping each other. That is a really pleasing thing for me to see at the moment.”
James Trafford was very modest after his save on Saturday. That attitude seems to show throughout the team…
“As I said there is a great togetherness with the team and the group at the moment. Hopefully, it stays that way. We are having to share the workload and share the responsibility out at the moment but I think they are adapting and dealing with it really well. I think they are supporting each other really well and hopefully they continue to do that for the rest of the season.”
What can we expect from Morecambe?
“We have played them a lot in the last couple of years and it has historically been a pretty tight game. It will probably be the same again. They are always hard to beat, they always work hard, they always come up with a pressing strategy and a block that is difficult to break down. I think the first goal of the game is going to be vital. Hopefully, we get it.”
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