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Ian Evatt rued Wanderers’ failure to capitalise on the chances they created in a 0-0 draw at Morecambe.
In what proved a tight game at the Mazuma Stadium, Shola Shoretire and Josh Sheehan had the most clear-cut opportunities – both of which were saved by home keeper Conor Ripley.
Morecambe started the day in 20th place in League One but their home form has been solid, with just one defeat in 11, and their refusal to be broken down in the second half hinted at why they have been difficult to beat.
“We had some really big moments, especially in the first half and we should have scored. Shola had a massive chance, we had one or two counter attacks where we were a bit wasteful,” Evatt said.
“At the start of the second half we were dominant and, again, you have to score when you are in that spell because the longer the game went on, a point looked a terrific result for them, they are fighting for their lives. They put more and more bodies behind the ball and on a challenging surface it was difficult to break them down.”
After Saturday’s round of results Bolton remain fourth but have lost further ground on the top two, Sheffield Wednesday and Ipswich Town – who also provide their next two opponents.
Evatt refuses to see the Morecambe result as a poor one, however, and is confident that performances will improve with more time to work with his players.
“I don’t think it puts pressure on us – it is a point gained in the grand scheme. We have to look at it that way,” he said.
“It has been a really tough period for the players, there has been very little time for recovery or to work with them on the grass. And in those times where we don’t get time to work with them, they lose a bit of rhythm. It has really been highlighted in the past couple of weeks.
“Now we are through that period we have a week to Ipswich, a week to Sheffield Wednesday and we will be all systems go with all the players we have talked about being up to speed and ready to go too.
“I am delighted really that if you can’t win the game then you shouldn’t lose, and we didn’t lose this game. I wish it had been the same on Tuesday night because we should not have been in the position to lose that game.
“We will park this now and move on. We know what we have got to do, there is a lot of football to be played, and away from home a clean sheet and a draw is definitely a point gained.
“We are on 63 points now with 10 games and a cup final to go.
“The group is getting stronger all the time with players returning. We have managed the spell well, even though it has been tough and challenging.
“Obviously we had chances to win the game today but we didn’t and their home record is not too shabby either, it is always a difficult place to come. We’ll take our medicine, as we should have done on Tuesday, and move on.”
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