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The battle for a place in the play-offs is hotting up but Ian Evatt wants Wanderers to ignore the noise and concentrate on themselves.
Evatt’s men are currently 11th in the League One table – seven points behind sixth-placed Plymouth with nine games to go.
Ahead of this afternoon’s clash with the Pilgrims, Evatt insists the best thing his players can do is focus on bringing their A game.
“In terms of pressure, all we can do is focus on us,” said the Bolton boss. “They know position specifics and what is required.
“They know there is accountability for everything they do. They know their jobs, they know their roles, they know the responsibilities and they have to make sure they execute those.
“Otherwise they know we’ve got people waiting in the wings to come and take their place, it’s as simple as that.
“But for us, don’t look elsewhere, just focus on ourselves and enjoy our football and play with a smile on our face.”
Wanderers’ play-off hopes were dented on Tuesday night after dropping points at home to relegation-threatened Morecambe despite Jon Dadi Bodvarsson’s late goal.
“Everybody could see the game on Tuesday, we completely controlled and dominated it,” added Evatt.
“I watched game back and how we didn’t win is baffling really. 80 odd per cent possession, 22 shots to their four.
“Some self-preservation from their manager after the game I see, but other than that we played really well. Some of our football was breath-taking at times, especially first half.
“Sometimes you don’t always get what you deserve in football and I don’t think anybody could argue other than the lot at Morecambe that we certainly didn’t get what we deserved.
“It wasn’t just possession for the sake of it. We were creating chances, cutting them open at will and we just didn’t take them.
“To be fair to them they’ve defended for their lives, but we’ve had all of the ball and eventually we’ve broke them down. If you keep punching eventually you get knocked out and that’s what happened.”
The Bolton boss admits the squad was frustrated not to take all three points against the Shrimps but insists they are heading in the right direction.
“As frustrated as we all were on Tuesday, I think the fans will see what we’re trying to do, see we’re performing to a high standard and see our football is fluid and attractive,” he said.
“We want to turn those performances into points but I think we’re evolving into a good side. We’re not there yet, we’ve got work to do.
“From what I’ve heard people are very impressed with what we’re trying to do so that’s good.”
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