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Ian Evatt feels Wanderers were too easily drawn into a physical battle at the back in defeat against Grimsby.
The Bolton boss felt his side did not play enough to their own strengths at the back, allowing the Mariners to profit from the aerial threats of James Hanson and Lennell John-Lewis.
Alex Baptiste and Ricardo Santos have been two of the Whites’ most consistent players since the turn of the year but neither looked comfortable under Grimsby’s ultra-direct approach.
Wanderers also failed to cut out the supply line to Grimsby’s front two, with 23 crosses raining in on the centre-halves during open play.
“Stopping that isn’t easy,” Evatt admitted after the final whistle. “You can’t get constant pressure on the ball.
“There are going to be times where they play forwards, especially when there are two of them up there, they don’t really have to be precise with any type of ball. It’s just loft it up there, they make it difficult and then do again with the second ball.
“Defensively we probably needed to be a little bit smarter. I was a big strong centre back but sometimes there are people bigger and stronger than you.
“Football, in general, is a matter of hiding your deficiencies and playing to your strengths. No disrespect to their two lads, but I don’t think their technical part of the game is the best, so make them control it, make them pass it, make them beat you. The minute they get physical contact, that’s what they want.
“But I can’t be too harsh on our defensive lads, we’ve been outstanding. We knew we’ve not played to our level, but we were still good enough to get a result and create a lot of chances. The main thing wrong with us is that we are not taking them.”
Wanderers had 15 shots on goal, eight on target, but only managed to get themselves on to the scoreboard in the 95th minute when substitute Shaun Miller lashed in a fine volley.
“It was a great finish, just too little too late really,” Evatt added. “But Shaun is a goal-scorer and that’s what Shaun can do.”
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The Bolton boss felt his side did not play enough to their own strengths at the back, allowing the Mariners to profit from the aerial threats of James Hanson and Lennell John-Lewis.
Alex Baptiste and Ricardo Santos have been two of the Whites’ most consistent players since the turn of the year but neither looked comfortable under Grimsby’s ultra-direct approach.
Wanderers also failed to cut out the supply line to Grimsby’s front two, with 23 crosses raining in on the centre-halves during open play.
“Stopping that isn’t easy,” Evatt admitted after the final whistle. “You can’t get constant pressure on the ball.
“There are going to be times where they play forwards, especially when there are two of them up there, they don’t really have to be precise with any type of ball. It’s just loft it up there, they make it difficult and then do again with the second ball.
“Defensively we probably needed to be a little bit smarter. I was a big strong centre back but sometimes there are people bigger and stronger than you.
“Football, in general, is a matter of hiding your deficiencies and playing to your strengths. No disrespect to their two lads, but I don’t think their technical part of the game is the best, so make them control it, make them pass it, make them beat you. The minute they get physical contact, that’s what they want.
“But I can’t be too harsh on our defensive lads, we’ve been outstanding. We knew we’ve not played to our level, but we were still good enough to get a result and create a lot of chances. The main thing wrong with us is that we are not taking them.”
Wanderers had 15 shots on goal, eight on target, but only managed to get themselves on to the scoreboard in the 95th minute when substitute Shaun Miller lashed in a fine volley.
“It was a great finish, just too little too late really,” Evatt added. “But Shaun is a goal-scorer and that’s what Shaun can do.”
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