Ian Evatt wants to continue to see Bolton Wanderers develop as they continue to improve in pre-season despite a loss to Wigan Athletic but wants them to make positive performances like that shown against the Latics count when the League One season gets going.
Wanderers took on the Latics yesterday afternoon in a behind closed doors clash at Bolton's Lostock training ground. Leam Richardson's side won the contest 1-0.
Charlie Wyke's first half penalty proved to be decisive for the Latics after Elias Kachunga had missed an earlier spot kick for the Whites. Wanderers are next in action this Tuesday in another behind closed doors clash away to another Championship side in the form of Watford at the Hornets' London Colney training base.
READ MORE: 'Lots of positives' - Ian Evatt's immediate reaction to Bolton's pre-season loss to Wigan
Wanderers were on top for much of the game against the Latics and ought to have got more out of the encounter following a positive performance against last season's League One champions who are playing in the Championship this season. Though Wanderers unquestionably deserved more from the clash and there were plenty of positives, Evatt does not want that to be used an excuse this upcoming season and he wants to see their performances tell when the action kicks off for real on July 30 against Ipswich Town.
He said: “I think you have to be careful about what you say too much because everybody will look at the result and say ‘they’ve been beaten’ but you guys (the media) are fortunate enough to be here today and witness the performance. I think we can all agree that we were the better team.
“We deserved more out of the game, but we can’t have that as an excuse this season. We’ve got to make these performances count and tell and that starts against Ipswich.
“But for now, it’s about building our idea, building our identity, building the philosophy, getting minutes into their legs. The lads are improving week on week, which is really pleasing.
“I just think we want to see our personality and identity really and that improve week on week. I thought the idea of what we were trying to do in and out of possession was there today and we did lots of good things.
“I don’t think first half we played behind enough. I don’t think we had enough runners in behind and played in behind enough. But I thought other than that, what we were trying to do was correct and right and obviously out of possession, I thought our work was good and smart.
“We still need to do work on it. I think a couple of times first half in particular we were a step too late on the press and the jump and that’ll just come with practice and more work. That’ll improve as we go along, but lots of things to be positive about."
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:
