Bolton Wanderers boss Ian Evatt believes his side's win over Watford was another step in the right direction ahead of the new League One season and belives their second goal in the victory was as good a strike as any.
Evatt took his side to Watford's London Colney training ground this afternoon for their fifth test of pre-season ahead of the League One season starting on July 30. Wanderers had played Wigan Athletic on Saturday before taking on the Hornets, who were relegated from the Premier League last season.
The Whites went ahead thanks to Kieran Lee's early strike, which Dapo Afolayan added to before the break with a sublime finish to double Bolton's advantage. It is Bolton's third victory of pre-season and a very encouraging performance against Championship opposition and a 2-0 victory.
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The second goal in particular was one that Evatt felt was as good a one you will see. Will Aimson found MJ Williams who in turn played a lovely ball around the corner for Afolayan to run onto after racing clear and slot home.
After bouncing back from a loss on the weekend against the Latics, Evatt believes momentum built up towards the tail end of last season has carried on and is pleased to take another step forwards. But ultimately, the season opener against Ipswich Town will be the true gauge of where Wanderers are in terms of preparation.
He said: “I think it’s another step forwards and we wanted to see improvements from the things we’ve been discussing and working on in training. I thought we saw those.
“When conditions are as they are and it’s that hot and humid, I think it’s just energy and attitude. It would have been easy for us to come and say ‘do you know what, we’re going to conserve energy and sacrifice the ball a little bit’.
“But that isn’t us and there’s no point practising that because that’s not how we’re going to play in the season. We just said to the players just give us everything, press how we normally press, play with that intensity and if you feel like you’re blowing up we’ll get you off and bring someone else on.
“We’ve got a really good squad to be able to do that, but the players’ fitness levels are excellent. I thought we kept up our energy and intensity throughout the game and it’s a positive performance.
“Absolutely there was good shape, structure and organisation. These are improvements that we’ve been putting in place on the training pitch. I think we’ve done a lot of work out of possession because that can create you opportunities as well and I think we’ve seen that in pre-season.
“We’ve been scoring goals and creating chances from our pressing strategy. That’s an important part of the game but what really pleased me today was some of our bravery in possession.
“We played through their press and I think the second goal is as good a goal as you’ll see at any level. That’s what we’re capable of but we just need to see that more consistently.
“We are trying to invite pressure, invite the press and then where that press comes from, we really attack the space behind it. I think we really did that well in the first half.
“Watford really struggled to get to grips with it and it was a great second goal. I think the momentum has carried on, in general. We lost a game on Saturday and everyone who was there will tell you we played really well but it was one of those days that we are capable of having where we lose it despite being pleased with the performance.
“I want to cut that out this season. Football is a tough game and I want to see more ugly wins at times alongside all that attractive football that we are capable of playing.
“Watford have some great players and Rob, who is a good friend of mine, I hope does well because he is a really talented coach.
“When you are on the football pitch you can’t play reputations, it is man against man. You win your battle and then try to express yourself in possession.
“I don’t know whether we are there yet, is the answer. I think we are progressing, I think we are doing well, and are streets ahead of where we were last year.
“But only when the football season kicks off will we have any true gauge as to where we really are.”
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