Ian Evatt believes Bolton Wanderers picking up second balls after the break was key to their victory over Lincoln City and led to their goals in the encounter as he set a target to try and win against MK Dons on Saturday in their surge to reach the League One play-offs.
George Johnston put Wanderers ahead after the break after nodding home Aaron Morley's corner in the second half versus Micahel Appleton's side.
But the Imps equalised via Cohen Bramall when his shot appeared to take a deflection and get past James Trafford.
However, a pair of substitutes in the form of Kieran Sadlier and Amadou Bakayoko came off the bench to ensure Wanderers picked up another crucial three points to make it six wins in a row at the University of Bolton Stadium.
Evatt was pleased with the character shown in reacting after the Imps equalised as he pinpointed how Wanderers got themselves back in the game in a hard fought victory.
He said: “It was really difficult because I think Lincoln’s game plan was really good. I think they went into a low deep block and denied us any space through the lines.
"We didn’t have the same zest and energy, especially in wide areas in the first half. What we needed to do and the solution pretty much was get our wing-backs on the last line and probably play more direct at times and hit soft diagonals because there wasn’t any space to play through and Lincoln aren’t the most physical of teams so we felt we could have some more joy that way.
"I think second half we went slightly more direct, played on the front foot a little bit more and picked up second balls. I think that’s what we got our goals from. I’m over the moon as that was a really hard fought victory and a difficult one.
“It would have been easy for them to back out of it at 1-1 and feel sorry for themselves because it was a really poor goal to concede. I think we’ve missed a couple of tackles and the ball seems to be going straight to Traff (James Trafford) and it hits Will and goes in, but to pick themselves up again and respond the way they did is huge for them and shows great character and personality.
"It also shows what a difference the bench can make in these tight games. Another set play which is important but I thought the way Demps, Baka and Sads game on and affected the game was great for us.”
Coupled with results elsewhere last night, Wanderers are now only five points from the play-offs.
Next up though is a trip to take on MK Dons on Saturday, a side currently third in the table.
Evatt says his side will not be going to Stadium MK to draw, but believes they have put themselves in a position with the wins over AFC Wimbledon and Lincoln means the fixture is not 'make or break' for Bolton in their quest to reach the play-offs.
He said: “All I can say is that we’re going to rest and recover and go there and give it our best shot. We’ve put ourselves in a position now where it’s not make or break on Saturday because of these two home wins, if we wouldn’t have won these two home games, we’ve had had to have gone and won.
"But we’re certainly going to try, we don’t go anywhere to draw. We’ll give it our best shot and hopefully that’s enough.”
