Ian Evatt insists Bolton Wanderers' place in the League One table 'means nothing' in September despite the win over MK Dons helping them to their early season aim of being in the higher reaches of the standings at the early stages of the campaign.
The Whites beat the Dons 2-0 at Stadium MK last night and Wanderers took the lead when Jones was brought down in the box by Dawson Devoy. Dion Charles stepped up to thump home from the penalty spot and give the Whites the advantage.
The visitors doubled their lead after the break when Jones rose highest to head home from Jack Iredale's free-kick. The win could have been by a greater margin but Wanderers picked up a valuable three points which sees them rise to fifth in the table.
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By the end of September, Evatt had targeted Wanderers being the top 10 of League One. It looks like they will achieve that aim now ahead of the home clash versus Peterborough United this Saturday.
Though Wanderers have fulfilled that aim, Evatt insists it means nothing at the moment with all focus on the next game. Though pleased with what he saw against MK Dons, the Bolton boss believes games down the line which do not suit them and have their backs against the wall will prove a tougher test of their credentials.
He said: “That’s our goal and aim but it means nothing in September. We’re not really looking at divisions right now, we're just looking at the next game, the next opportunity, it’s that next game mentality.
“The boys are really focussed. The message between themselves on the pitch tonight with the crowd, you could hear them demanding more of each other but in the right way with people accepting it in the right way, and that’s really pleasing because I don’t think that’s always been the case for us.
“Big characters leading by example. Today I thought we did that and there was a steely determination about us tonight and I liked what I saw.
“Teams that try and build from goalkeeper and there’s lots of movement, lots of rotation and it just gave us the opportunity to see the fruits of our labour in pre-season with our out of possession stuff and I think the way we executed the gameplan, the way we stuck to our men individually with the amount of rotation that was going on is really disciplined.
“I thought we did that and we regained the ball so many times high up the pitch. If we can just start being more clinical on those regains and in those transitional moments then we’re going to be aa good team but we can’t have everything. It’s still very much a work in progress.
“The away games this season aren't all going to be like this. It kind of suits us and how we are. A lovely big stadium, big pitch, they bring out the best of our out of possession work with the way they play. It’s backs to the wall, defending long balls, set plays is going to be our challenge but we’re looking forward to that challenge.
“We think we’ve improved on that aspect but only time will tell.”
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