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Ian Evatt admits Arthur Gnahoua has given him plenty to think about after his point-saving heroics at Exeter City.
The former Macclesfield Town front man has been on the edges of the squad since picking up a hamstring injury in early December but bounced off the bench to help Wanderers claim a draw at St James Park.
“He has been training really well,” Evatt said of his inspired substitution. “The things he has shown me have been excellent and he’s unlucky not to start at the moment.
“He can shoot with both feet, has pace, his game intelligence and defensive responsibility needs to improve but there’s a player in there and if we can get him doing that, he’ll be an asset to us.”
On the game, Evatt felt a draw was a fair result in what proved a scrappy 90 minutes of a difficult surface.
“I don’t think there was a great deal in it,” he said. “There was one chance each in the first half, we had a few breaks where our decision making wasn’t quite there.
“We were tight and compact in the second half until that one bit of bad defending for their goal but again we rallied, made the changes, starting playing on the front foot and had a 20-minute spell where we played well and could have got more.”
Veteran keeper Matt Gilks needed to be sharp to keep Exeter at bay, making important saves in either half.
“It was one of those nights where the pitch was really heavy and bobbling and mistakes were made but I thought our concentration as a team was excellent, the structure was there, we just need some finer work on the detail.
“Matt was great, even thought I’d have caught the shots he pushed away.
“Kieran Lee was great, you can see the class he has got, he just needs game time. The main thing he has come through unscathed.”
Wanderers have also been boosted with the news that new signing Declan John’s hamstring injury is not as bad as first feared, with the Welshman expected to return in a fortnight.
“It’s a grade one, which is two weeks maximum,” Evatt added. “So it has been a good day all round.
“It’s unfortunate we didn’t get that second goal in our good spell but I am pleased enough with a point.”
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The former Macclesfield Town front man has been on the edges of the squad since picking up a hamstring injury in early December but bounced off the bench to help Wanderers claim a draw at St James Park.
“He has been training really well,” Evatt said of his inspired substitution. “The things he has shown me have been excellent and he’s unlucky not to start at the moment.
“He can shoot with both feet, has pace, his game intelligence and defensive responsibility needs to improve but there’s a player in there and if we can get him doing that, he’ll be an asset to us.”
On the game, Evatt felt a draw was a fair result in what proved a scrappy 90 minutes of a difficult surface.
“I don’t think there was a great deal in it,” he said. “There was one chance each in the first half, we had a few breaks where our decision making wasn’t quite there.
“We were tight and compact in the second half until that one bit of bad defending for their goal but again we rallied, made the changes, starting playing on the front foot and had a 20-minute spell where we played well and could have got more.”
Veteran keeper Matt Gilks needed to be sharp to keep Exeter at bay, making important saves in either half.
“It was one of those nights where the pitch was really heavy and bobbling and mistakes were made but I thought our concentration as a team was excellent, the structure was there, we just need some finer work on the detail.
“Matt was great, even thought I’d have caught the shots he pushed away.
“Kieran Lee was great, you can see the class he has got, he just needs game time. The main thing he has come through unscathed.”
Wanderers have also been boosted with the news that new signing Declan John’s hamstring injury is not as bad as first feared, with the Welshman expected to return in a fortnight.
“It’s a grade one, which is two weeks maximum,” Evatt added. “So it has been a good day all round.
“It’s unfortunate we didn’t get that second goal in our good spell but I am pleased enough with a point.”
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