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Wanderers have been warned to expect heavy fire when they head to Harrogate.
Ian Evatt is ready to shake-up his defence at the Keepmoat Stadium in an effort to get a first win of the season on the board.
The Whites head coach has gone back to basics on the training ground this week after seeing his defenders completely out-fought by Newport.
And with a physical battle on the cards at the Keepmoat Stadium today, Ryan Delaney could come in for his first league start of the campaign.
“We have spoken about it this week and I can’t hide these things from you guys – but there were 18 headers in our box against Newport last weekend and we won two of them,” he told The Bolton News.
“That is not good enough. It is not acceptable. And the players have been told that.
“If it’s me versus you, I am going to stop you scoring. And if the ball comes in the air, I will get there first.
“It doesn’t matter if you are 6ft 7ins or 5ft 3ins if the desire isn’t there, you are not going to win the ball.”
Evatt moved to a back four a couple of games ago to take some pressure off his defenders in possession and could now simplify things further to help his team stop a losing run.
“We have to get back to basics,” he said. “Forget getting the ball from the keeper, for now. That’s the hard past, as defenders, when I am asking you to be more.
“Sometimes you can lose your focus – but at Harrogate I am asking you to win headers, win tackles and defend for your lives.
“If you do that, everything else is a bonus and it’ll dictate what level you play at in your career.”
Harrogate steamrollered Southend United on the opening day of the season and have quickly set about establishing themselves in League Two since their promotion via the National League play-offs last season.
Evatt, whose Barrow team was also flattened by Harrogate early on last term, knows a physical test is afoot.
“That is what is coming – I have seen it first hand,” he said. “They are good on set pieces, they are good at putting balls into uncomfortable areas and making you defend crosses into the box.
“We have to defend and fight, and I’ll pick a team that I think I’d want to be in the trenches with, simple as that.”
Wanderers have not failed to win any of their opening six competitive games since 1902 – a record Evatt does not want to inherit by 5pm this evening.
“I am angry and I fully appreciate that we are in the worst position Bolton have ever been in, there is no denying it,” he said.
“However, the season isn’t over, we’re three games in. Let’s use that as fuel for the fire in our bellies and go out there and get a performance on Saturday.”
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Ian Evatt is ready to shake-up his defence at the Keepmoat Stadium in an effort to get a first win of the season on the board.
The Whites head coach has gone back to basics on the training ground this week after seeing his defenders completely out-fought by Newport.
And with a physical battle on the cards at the Keepmoat Stadium today, Ryan Delaney could come in for his first league start of the campaign.
“We have spoken about it this week and I can’t hide these things from you guys – but there were 18 headers in our box against Newport last weekend and we won two of them,” he told The Bolton News.
“That is not good enough. It is not acceptable. And the players have been told that.
“If it’s me versus you, I am going to stop you scoring. And if the ball comes in the air, I will get there first.
“It doesn’t matter if you are 6ft 7ins or 5ft 3ins if the desire isn’t there, you are not going to win the ball.”
Evatt moved to a back four a couple of games ago to take some pressure off his defenders in possession and could now simplify things further to help his team stop a losing run.
“We have to get back to basics,” he said. “Forget getting the ball from the keeper, for now. That’s the hard past, as defenders, when I am asking you to be more.
“Sometimes you can lose your focus – but at Harrogate I am asking you to win headers, win tackles and defend for your lives.
“If you do that, everything else is a bonus and it’ll dictate what level you play at in your career.”
Harrogate steamrollered Southend United on the opening day of the season and have quickly set about establishing themselves in League Two since their promotion via the National League play-offs last season.
Evatt, whose Barrow team was also flattened by Harrogate early on last term, knows a physical test is afoot.
“That is what is coming – I have seen it first hand,” he said. “They are good on set pieces, they are good at putting balls into uncomfortable areas and making you defend crosses into the box.
“We have to defend and fight, and I’ll pick a team that I think I’d want to be in the trenches with, simple as that.”
Wanderers have not failed to win any of their opening six competitive games since 1902 – a record Evatt does not want to inherit by 5pm this evening.
“I am angry and I fully appreciate that we are in the worst position Bolton have ever been in, there is no denying it,” he said.
“However, the season isn’t over, we’re three games in. Let’s use that as fuel for the fire in our bellies and go out there and get a performance on Saturday.”
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