George Johnston was replaced at half-time of Bolton Wanderers' loss to Forest Green Rovers for tactical reasons and not for any injury, Ian Evatt confirmed.
The Whites travelled to Gloucestershire again following Tuesday's night's defeat on the road to Cheltenham Town. They faced a Forest Green side sitting in the drop zone.
But Connor Wickham scored what proved to be the winning goal in the first half. Despite chances for Dion Charles, Jon Dadi Bodvarsson and Kieran Saldier after the break, the Whites were unable to draw level and slipped to defeat.
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Johnston suffered a heavy knock early on with Forest Green goalkeeper Luke Mcgee and was down for several minutes in the first half. He continued but was replaced at the break by Jack Iredale.
Speaking after the loss, Evatt confirmed that Johnston was withdrawn for tactical reasons rather than an injury for Johnston. The Bolton boss feels lapses in defensive concentration and a lack of collective responsibility for scoring goals have cost his side dear in their past two games.
He said: “It wasn’t the reason (for taking him off). It was a tactical change. I just felt that where the space was today was with our wide centre backs becoming higher and almost left wing-backs at times because our wing-backs were able to play so high on the last line.
“We needed someone that was comfortable playing and stepping forwards in those areas and Jack’s done that a lot so it was more of a tactical change and I think it worked second half to be honest. We had lots of play, lots of good positions, lots or opportunities and we just didn’t take one.
“If we look back at the game I think they more or less entered our boss twice and we’ve managed to lose. The amount of chances we created in the second half, the score should never be nil, but the centre forwards can argue that the score should be nil the other end and I think we’ve had the opportunity for a clean sheet.
“I think we’ve still got the best defensive record so it’s not like we’re conceding goals or chances to be honest, but there was that lapse of concentration on Tuesday and there was a lapse of concentration today, but we have to take responsibility like I’ve said with clean sheets that it’s a team game. We have to take collective responsibility for scoring goals the other end as well and I don’t think the last two games we’ve covered ourselves in glory on that aspect.”
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