MATCH REACTION: Ian Evatt pleased with 'resilience' shown in Ipswich draw

Wanderers boss Ian Evatt is delighted with his side’s “resilience” following their 1-1 draw with Ipswich at Portman Road.

Aaron Morley was on target from the spot for the Whites, while Lee Evans scored for the hosts before half-time.

Evatt is pleased with the way his side dug in during the second half to claim a point against “a very well-coached side”.

“We were in complete control first half. We started the game really well. Our press was excellent, it was intense,” said the Bolton chief. “They struggled to find solutions, they couldn’t get out and we completely dominated.

“Then the set-play wobbled us and changed momentum as it will when there are 30,000 fans screaming for their team.

“We got to half-time and managed the game particularly well really, and then second half we just lacked a bit of quality in possession, which is not like us.

“We had the resilience and we had the fight, the energy, the work ethic. We just lacked that in-possession edge and quality, and that is something we will work on.

“But we have to give huge credit to the opposition as well. They are a really good team, they are very well-coached and ask you lots of questions.

“That type of performance, that resilience, hard work. Those sleeves-up kind of moments, we haven’t really had in the two years so I am delighted to see that. We just need to now add our in-possession identity, which second half we didn’t really show.

“We had moments where in transition the spaces were wide open. Whether it was fatigue or the occasion, we just lacked that composure and quality to executive that first pass. But we will work on it and it is a good start.

Evatt admits it is always frustrating to concede from a set-piece but felt there were aspects of the performance his side can build on in the coming weeks and months.

He added: “You are always disappointed when you concede from a set-play. It is a well-worked block and a run around front, but from our perspective it shouldn’t really happen.

“You are given a man and it is your job to do it. But these things do happen, especially against good teams. It is just frustrating how a set-play gave them the momentum.

“I think a point away at Ipswich, with their spending power, what they have brought in to the club and their record since Kieran (McKenna) has been in charge – it is a massive point and there won’t be many teams come here and achieve that this season.

“It gives us a platform to progress from. We know we can be better but what I did see today was loads of energy and great attitude, and if we have that first and foremost, that is how quality will shine through.”

Kyle Dempsey was absent from the side after suffering a knock in training, but Evatt confirmed his side came through the game with no further injuries.

However, the Bolton chief felt his side were on the wrong end of a couple of decisions against the Tractor Boys.

“Dempsey received a pretty hefty dead leg in training yesterday, so we decided not to really risk that. Everyone else seems okay,” the manager explained.

“Gethin – it is a stone wall penalty from the first corner. He has grabbed hold of his arm and nearly yanked his shoulder out, which was disappointing.

“I think also just before half-time there was a really bad tackle on MJ Williams that has left a pretty nasty gash right by his knee, which also should have been a red card in my opinion.

“But these things happen. As I said, I am delighted with the lads to get a point and the resilience we showed.”





Source

In amongst the hype above, there are a few grains of truth that I hope he will jump on and learn from:

Evatt wrote:“We got to half-time and managed the game particularly well really, and then second half we just lacked a bit of quality in possession, which is not like us.

“We just lacked that in-possession edge and quality, and that is something we will work on"

 "We just need to now add our in-possession identity, which second half we didn’t really show."

“We had moments where in transition the spaces were wide open. Whether it was fatigue or the occasion, we just lacked that composure and quality to execute that first pass. But we will work on it and it is a good start."

Basically, when Ipswich upped their game and got amongst us, our passing went to bits and we gave it away in midfield time and time again. Quality midfielders like Morsy are always going to cause trouble, but we should be doing a lot better, because the passes were on to be made and they went astray. Worse still we almost lost it at the back a couple of times and Trafford's nervy performance piled on the pressure even more.

All this comes back to a simple fact: it's one thing to try to play like Barca/City but when the pressure is on you need Barca/City quality players to play their way out of trouble and break the press - we obviously don't have that, but Evatt will undoubtedly continue flogging that particular horse regardless.

Dan Barnes wrote:Evatt admits it is always frustrating to concede from a set-piece but felt there were aspects of the performance his side can build on in the coming weeks and months.

Marking from FKs, crosses and corners was our downfall on many an occasions last season and we don't seem to have learned anything from it. There seems to be a lot of ball watching and not a lot of tracking runners - basic stuff - so we got mugged on a simple corner routine and when they did the exact same thing 20 minutes later we were nearly mugged again.

Sort it out FFS because we have already presented every other team in this league with a simple strategy to frustrate us.

wanderlust wrote:In amongst the hype above, there are a few grains of truth that I hope he will jump on and learn from:



Basically, when Ipswich upped their game and got amongst us, our passing went to bits and we gave it away in midfield time and time again. Quality midfielders like Morsy are always going to cause trouble, but we should be doing a lot better, because the passes were on to be made and they went astray. Worse still we almost lost it at the back a couple of times and Trafford's nervy performance piled on the pressure even more.

All this comes back to a simple fact: it's one thing to try to play like Barca/City but when the pressure is on you need Barca/City quality players to play their way out of trouble and break the press - we obviously don't have that, but Evatt will undoubtedly continue flogging that particular horse regardless.



Marking from FKs, crosses and corners was our downfall on many an occasions last season and we don't seem to have learned anything from it. There seems to be a lot of ball watching and not a lot of tracking runners - basic stuff - so we got mugged on a simple corner routine and when they did the exact same thing 20 minutes later we were nearly mugged again.

Sort it out FFS because we have already presented every other team in this league with a simple strategy to frustrate us.

Agreed. Many of last season's failings were on show again yesterday, and that, in itself, is a worry.