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Ian Evatt says Bolton Wanderers made a statement of intent by stretching their unbeaten run to 10 games with an impressive 2-1 win over second-placed Cambridge United, which closed the gap on the top three to four points.
And the Wanderers boss insists a rare mistake by Matt Gilks should not cloud what he labelled “an excellent performance”, as the goalkeeper’s slip-up gifted the U’s a goal and made for an anxious finale.
Evatt was prepared to overlook that error, acknowledging that the experienced stopper was “in credit” for the volume of saves he has made this season.
Instead he focused on the “breathtaking” football they delivered beforehand.
“I thought for 70 minutes we were brilliant. We could and should have scored more goals. The game should have been out of sight,” said Evatt.
“But the mistake changed the momentum of the game because were looking comfortable and looking like scoring again.
“That gave them a leg up and we had to defend well for the last 15 minutes.
But that should not cloud what was an excellent performance.
“Matt has saved us enough times so we don’t mind that (mistake).
“The run we have been on has been really challenging and it is exceptional the players have managed to win eight of the last 10 games. The quality of the football at times was breathtaking.
“Cambridge found it tough to live with us and if we perform like that we are going to be a handful for most teams.”
Evatt dedicated the win to the 33 Wanderers fans who died in the Burnden Park disaster 75 years ago.
"It was important we wanted to put on a good performance for those 33 fans. Hopefully, they were smiling down on us and enjoyed the victory," he said.
“We must never forget those fans who went to watch a football game and didn’t get home. It is so sad, heartbreaking. We wanted to do them proud and I think we did.”
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And the Wanderers boss insists a rare mistake by Matt Gilks should not cloud what he labelled “an excellent performance”, as the goalkeeper’s slip-up gifted the U’s a goal and made for an anxious finale.
Evatt was prepared to overlook that error, acknowledging that the experienced stopper was “in credit” for the volume of saves he has made this season.
Instead he focused on the “breathtaking” football they delivered beforehand.
“I thought for 70 minutes we were brilliant. We could and should have scored more goals. The game should have been out of sight,” said Evatt.
“But the mistake changed the momentum of the game because were looking comfortable and looking like scoring again.
“That gave them a leg up and we had to defend well for the last 15 minutes.
But that should not cloud what was an excellent performance.
“Matt has saved us enough times so we don’t mind that (mistake).
“The run we have been on has been really challenging and it is exceptional the players have managed to win eight of the last 10 games. The quality of the football at times was breathtaking.
“Cambridge found it tough to live with us and if we perform like that we are going to be a handful for most teams.”
Evatt dedicated the win to the 33 Wanderers fans who died in the Burnden Park disaster 75 years ago.
"It was important we wanted to put on a good performance for those 33 fans. Hopefully, they were smiling down on us and enjoyed the victory," he said.
“We must never forget those fans who went to watch a football game and didn’t get home. It is so sad, heartbreaking. We wanted to do them proud and I think we did.”
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