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The result was all that mattered to Ian Evatt as he surmised a frustrating day’s work against Cheltenham Town.
Wanderers had struggled to break down a stubborn deep-lying visiting defence until the 80th minute when Kyle Dempsey found space on the edge of the area to drill a low shot into the bottom corner.
There had been a few chances – Dion Charles blasted over in the first half and had another close-range effort blocked on the line by Caleb Taylor.
But Cheltenham could also point to a free header for Will Goodwin, or a late Alfie May drive that was blocked on the line by Eoin Toal.
“The only thing to focus on is the win,” the manager said. “They came with a gameplan to frustrate, really disrupting, a low block of nine or 10 players, so you need to be really precise.
“It is tough on that pitch to play one touch around the box but thanks to one moment of brilliance from Kyle we found a way to win the game.
“We had moments. Dion was through in the first half and should have shown more composure. There were other bits where we didn’t quite have the bounce of the ball in the box.
“There was one team trying to win it and another team trying not to lose it, to disrupt, and it wasn’t easy.”
Evatt was able to bring on Kieran Lee and Cameron Jerome in the second half, initially to try and get a goal, but eventually helping to see out the game.
Cheltenham’s timewasting tactics eventually played in their favour, as five minutes were added on at the end as they tried to get themselves level.
“The officials in the first half didn’t help,” Evatt said. “Second half they were better.
“But we were almost penalised twice because they have disrupted it, there is five minutes added on, but they get that time back to try and get into the game again. It is almost a double punishment.
“Once we had got the goal the way we saw the game out was very professional. Cam and Kieran coming on with that bit of experience, managing the game, it was a really important three points.”
After Bolton had gone ahead, Conor Bradley was penalised for timewasting, his 10th booking of the season meaning a two-match suspension.
“We are going to miss Conor now,” Evatt said. “I am not sure how that was deemed as time-wasting when all he was doing was giving the ball back to Eoin Toal, after what had already gone on in the game, it’s crazy. But it is what it is, we’ll regroup and go again.
“We are light and short on numbers. It is the way things are at the moment but we may have a few bodies close to coming back. Randell could be available next weekend, George Thomason and Dan Nlundulu are not far away.
“We are bare bones, very light, so we will have to look after them now and get ready for a tough game at Peterborough on Saturday.”
There were wins elsewhere for Derby and Sheffield Wednesday at the top but both Ipswich and Barnsley dropped points.
Evatt wants his side to focus solely on their own fortunes.
“That’s what it is – competitive top-level football and the top teams tend to win,” he said. “All we can do is focus on our jobs and roles. Keep racking up those points, it’s a cliché but it is pivotal that all we do now is keep our heads down, work hard, keep knocking the wins out as best we can.”
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