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Ian Evatt reckons Josh Sheehan’s superb team goal at Wimbledon can do him a favour in the future.
The Bolton boss joked after Saturday’s 3-3 draw that the quality build-up for his side’s second goal of the day at Plough Lane was on par with another strike which is often aired on social media.
Back in 2010, Mark Davies announced himself at Wanderers with by finishing off a team goal against Evatt’s Blackpool which is still ranked as one of the best of the modern era scored by the club to this day.
It even beat Johan Elmander’s solo effort against Wolves to Bolton’s goal of the season.
Evatt, who had also scored for Ian Holloway’s side at the Reebok that day, reckons Sheehan’s effort should be equally lauded.
“I think rather than show me getting twisted inside out by Sparky and whoever else it was against Blackpool, they should put on the second goal today where Alex Baptiste has taken the goal kick and within minutes it’s in the back of the net from Josh Sheehan,” he said. “I think you’ll struggle to find, Premier League included, a better goal than that today.”
Dapo Afolayan also got himself on the scoresheet for the first time this season, following a piece of advice from his manager.
“It’s no coincidence that when he gets himself in that back post area he scores goals,” Evatt said. “We have said that no end of times.
“You look at the top teams, how many goals they get there throughout the season, Man City in particular. It’s great for him to be in that position.”
Wanderers were put on their way against Wimbledon by an Eoin Doyle penalty, which also opened his account for the season.
The Irishman missed a large part of pre-season through illness but after scoring and creating a goal for Sheehan at Plough Lane, Evatt believes the Irishman is starting to look back to his best.
“He’s a goal-scorer at whatever level he plays at and I thought today he was outstanding,” he said. “I thought he was excellent, he led the line superbly well and we carried a real goal threat.
“Amadou (Bakayoko) and Dapo were a real threat and then when Elias Kachunga and Izzy (Lloyd Isgrove) came on as well, it shows we have some seriously talented forward players.
“Now we have to make sure we balance out our attacking in waves to keeping some composure and solidity behind the ball.”
That Wanderers lost a 3-1 lead at Wimbledon was a frustration to Evatt but he remained positive that his players will soon find another gear to start putting wins on the board.
“Wimbledon have won both their games prior to today and at times I thought we were breath-taking,” he said. “We just had a couple of minutes of utter madness that cost us the game.
“But this is opening of a stadium up having not played here for 30 years, it’s emotional for them, they were going to give it their all and they got a point in the end.
“It was an emotional game for them. Fitness wise, my boys are still going to improve. We’ve got another 20, 30 per cent in our locker. For now, just bear with them while they find their feet.
“They have been through a lot pre-season and some of it isn’t always out there to you guys in the press. We have had a really disrupted time but as a group we are really strong and our mentality is excellent and I know that we will learn from this today and come back better and stronger.”
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