Bolton Wanderers boss Ian Evatt believes he saw positives and negatives from his side in their pre-season friendly against Stockport County but felt the draw was a fair result.
The spoils were shared as Will Collar put County into the lead after the 60 minute mark, only for Wanderers to draw level moments latr through Elias Kachunga. The Whites went in front not long after thanks to Liverpool loanee Conor Bradley, but Myles Hippolyte levelled after to ensure the behind closed doors contest ended in a draw.
It was the third game of Bolton's pre-season schedule. The Whites had previously played non-league sides Longridge Town and Chorley as thy picked up victories in those encounters.
READ MORE: Stockport County 2-2 Bolton Wanderers: highlights as pre-season friendly ends all square
This contest ended even and Evatt felt that was a fair result for Wanderers and County as he saw ups and downs from his side, but he feels this is to be somewhat expected at this stage of pre-season. Evatt hailed the sharpness of striker Dion Charles, who started the game and was bright throughout, as he revealed fellow forward Jon Dadi Bodvarsson played with a niggle after coming on in the second half.
Evatt said: “I think there was positives and negatives and you’re going to get that at this stage of pre-season and this stage of our preparation. It’s just a work in progress and I saw some things that we’ve been working on, some really good things and obviously some that are not so good.
“But it was a much more competitive game, number one, and number two, just our sharpness really in front of goal especially. I think we had some really good opportunities first half that we created really well. Some of our combination play was good and sharp, but then just that composure to finish.
“It was a fair result and a good exercise for both teams.
“He (Charles) does so much good work in and out of possession, the way he sets the press, he’s aggressive with his work. He’s becoming more reliable in possession.
“Some of his hold up play is really good, and then it’s just to simplify his game after that initial hold up play, but I’m really pleased with him.
“Jon was carrying a bit of a niggle so managed himself just to get minutes in his legs. Kacha and Baka also did lots of good work, so I’m pleased with the front lads at the minute.”
Kachunga's goal followed from Wanderers pressing from the front not long after going behind against County at their Carrington training complex. Bradley put Wanderers ahead with a precise low finish into the bottom left-hand corner.
Evatt was pleased with Kachunga's goal and how it came about, but spoke warmly too of the second strike, which came from George Johnston's pass. The Bolton boss is conscious of the talent Liverpool loanee Bradley has but is wary of not building him up too high given he is still a young player with room to improve.
Evatt said: “The most pleasing goal for me was the first one because that’s kind of the way we press together and the way the front players in particular and the two strikers and the 10 work as a unit to contain their back players.
“When to jump, how to jump, with what intensity and I think we got it spot on there. A couple of times in the second half when young Conor came on, you could see the way he reads the jump and the timing of the jump and then is so aggressive and intense with it, he’s a good prospect.
“A lovely pass from George Johnston and a wonderful first touch and finish. He’s a young player with huge potential but we don’t want to build him up too high. We’ve just got to keep working with him, enjoy his football and hopefully we’ll see a lot more things like that this season.”
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