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Ian Evatt has urged Wanderers fans to stick with his young play-off-challenging squad regardless of what happens at Sheffield Wednesday tonight.
The Bolton boss wants his team to be fearless at Hillsborough as they attempt to topple an Owls side unbeaten in their last 22 games and leading the table by three clear points.
Nerves had crept into their performance at home to Ipswich last weekend but Evatt is backing his young players to benefit from the experience, and believes some diamonds can be formed from the promotion pressures.
“I think we've learned a hell of a lot recently, especially against sides who have pressed aggressively, games where we have to be ultra-brave, ultra-detailed in what we do,” he told The Bolton News. “So, we have to make sure now that we know what the response will be to every form of direct pressure that teams put on us.
“If it is the full-back exposing their centre-backs, then that is where the ball needs to go.
“So, if they do ‘this’ then we do ‘this’. It is education and the players will get better. A lot of them were inexperienced on Saturday against Ipswich but in the long-term they will benefit. And I get that this club wants short-term success alongside long-term success, which is very hard to do.
“Fans want to win every week and I absolutely get that. But I think we know what we are doing, and I think we are a part of the way along that journey, we just need to stick together, and we’ll get there.”
Evatt has a healthy respect for Wednesday, who are on a club record run without a league defeat which stretches back to October.
In common with last weekend’s opponents, Ipswich, they have assembled a costly but canny squad of experienced players in an effort to return to the Championship at the second time of asking, following their relegation in 2020/21.
“You have to take one look at their squad to know it’s an incredibly strong one for this level of football,” said the Wanderers boss.
“Again, they are experienced and mature in what they do and the way they do it.
“Going back to Ipswich – alongside Sheffield Wednesday they are probably the two biggest spenders in the division, yet, at times on Saturday, for all the good football they play, they were also pragmatic. They were not worried about putting the ball in behind, quite often actually, and that gives great respect to the way we press.
“Sheffield Wednesday are the same. They are good from set plays, play into good areas, ask questions with crosses in the box, and they are excellent at seeing out and managing games.
“It is massive credit to Darren Moore and his staff for what they have done this season. Breaking a club record is fantastic but with every record it becomes a challenge. It is an opportunity for us to go and end it, and the players have to embrace that.
“We know it will be as tough as it gets, but we are looking forward to the game.”
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