Bolton Wanderers are back in action this weekend and aiming to win three games on the bounce in League One when they take on Sunderland.
In a clash that has graced the Premier League in years gone by, Wanderers host the Black Cats.
It is a chance for Wanderers to make it three wins on the spin in the third tier of English football and an opportunity to avenge the 1-0 loss on the road at the Stadium of Light in September.
READ MORE: Bolton Wanderers injury news update on Xavier Amaechi and Kieran Lee ahead of Sunderland clash
But Bolton take on a Lee Johnson side sitting in the automatic promotion spots at present and who have aspirations of being back in the Championship next season.
Before 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 to broadcasters.
Are there any updates on incomings and outgoings?
“No. There’s progress but slow progress. We’re still working really, really hard on potentially two more. Things are progressing slowly but progressing which is the most important thing. But I would think there would be a couple more in before the end of the deadline.”
Would one be Kyle Dempsey, is that still ongoing?
“Of course there’s a timescale because there’s the end of the window. There is going to come a stage where we say enough is enough and we’ll leave it and move on and maybe potentially take a loan and then revisit it in the summer which will save us a lot of money.
"But we think we’ve been more than reasonable and we’ll just see how it progresses.”
The club have refinanced - does that affect anything that would inhibit you or alter your situation?
“Absolutely not. Whatever our board do is for the benefit and best for Bolton Wanderers and that’s I think all I need to say on the matter.”
What’s the availability?
“Xav Amaechi is back training so that’s another plus and another headache, which is nice, I’ve not had too many of them, for the right reasons anyway. Everyone is still recovering, everyone is still gaining match fitness and sharpness so we should be better for it this weekend.”
Are you still pondering in terms of your final team selection?
“What I will say is I think after Saturday, we’ve got eight games in February in a short month so fortunately now we’ve got options to be able to change and rotate and keep people fresh.
"That’s what we’ve wanted all along, especially the top end of the pitch now there’s some serious competition and more coming so it’s very pleasing and looking forward to hopefully what is going to be a good month for us.”
How’s training been this week?
“It’s always good after a win. We know that we’ve got loads more hard work to do and improvements to come. I said on Saturday it was pleasing that we won the game, but I still think there’s loads we can do better.
"First and foremost, we’ve been hard to beat, which is excellent because we haven’t been at times this season, but I’m delighted with the couple of wins but what I will say is very much a work in progress in this shape and formation and we want to get back to being hard to beat, but also dominating the ball and making sure we’re attacking and expansive and hurting the opposition. That’s what I want to see.”
You praised Dapo Afolayan for having excellent attitude coming onto the field last week against Shrewsbury - that’s the kind of thing that’s going to be needed throughout the squad in this very busy period?
“That’s something that we’ve needed to really drill into the players that it’s very much a squad game, especially when you’ve got so many games.
"The same 11 cannot keep going to the well all the time because the well runs dry, as we’ve seen earlier on this season, so we have to make sure that they’re all ready to play, their attitude is first class in training and if the ones that haven’t played on a Saturday need extra top up work, then they need to make sure they do it because when they’re given a chance, they need to hit the ground running because there’s serious competition for places now and that’s how it should be at Bolton Wanderers.”
You must have a nice headache for all these matches coming up?
“Yeah. It’s difficult being a manager. I think everybody thinks they can be one but it’s really not that easy, trust me!
"I said it on Saturday that the most important thing is that the players are together and they have that togetherness and they have to support each other in their units, whether they’re forward players, midfield players, defensive players, as a collective as well support each other, and if you’re in or out of the team, be consistent with your team mates and your behaviour and that means supporting them and I understand there’s going to be frustrations.
"That should never be aimed towards team mates, it should be aimed towards me and to get in my team, you have to make sure you’re performing well day in, day out.
"Not just on Saturdays, so that’s how it needs to be. I don’t expect anybody out of the team to be happy and they can take it out on me all they want, that’s great and I’m happy to take that, I’m the manager, but providing they are together, they stay together and they support their team mates in the right fashion, it’ll go a long way.”
Dion Charles’ goal against Shrewsbury was a good starting point for him at Bolton?
“I’m delighted that he’s got off the mark. When you sign centre forwards for money and he becomes a marquee player and a marquee signing and you want him to hit the ground running, but we knew he was short of sharpness and fitness and he’s improving all the time and every game he seems to be improving and we’re seeing more and more of him.
"He’s going to be a really good player for this football club, that’s really the first moment that we can enjoy but I think there will be many more to come.”
This match with Sunderland is going to be a technical and tactical battle, but they are keeping consistency which may put them in contention for getting out of this league?
“It’s a huge football club. They’re second in this division for a reason. Yes, they lost at home to Lincoln, but Lincoln are a very good team and are very well coached and well managed by a very good manager. Lee is an excellent manager and someone that I respect in the game. I love the way they play.
"For me, at the top end of this division, they play the best football, which as a self confessed football snob I appreciate and I’m looking forward to the game. It’s a massive challenge for us, another big challenge, a big game, a big gate, and hopefully we can go out there and do ourselves justice.”
