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Ian Evatt instructed his midfielders to shoot on sight at half time – and reaped the reward as Josh Sheehan struck a potentially priceless goal in the play-off race.
The Wanderers boss had watched his side labour for 45 minutes as Shrewsbury’s deep-lying defence gave them little opportunity to break through.
Things started to speed up after the break, however, and Evatt was confident that his tiring opponents would surrender more chances if they continued in a similar vein.
“The only frustration is that we could have, should have scored more,” he said. “We hit the crossbar twice in that second half, had three one-on-ones and the keeper has made some good saves.
“It was a great goal – and we said at half time that if they were going to offer us shots from the edge of the box, then we should take them.
“Kyle Dempsey, Aaron Morley and Josh Sheehan can all shoot, so we wanted to be more proactive with that. But we had other big opportunities and wasted them so hopefully we are just keeping our powder dry for the future.
“We will enjoy today but refocus for a really important one on Tuesday.”
Nerves were evident throughout the first half as Wanderers struggled to create meaningful chances, Demspey’s two shots from the edge of the area the best they could muster in a sterile spectacle.
Fans called for more crosses and a faster pace to the game, with neither side able to muster a shot on targer.
Nevertheless, Evatt felt that after using the jab for 45 minutes, his team was always capable of landing a knockout blow.
“I understand in the first half some frustration with the fans but you have to remember against a set defence – a block of five, four and one – all behind the ball, crossing the ball or being more direct is what they want. They are built for physicality, winning duels, heading duels. We are built to probe and move the opposition and eventually they were going to get tired,” he said.
“It might not happen first half but it will happen eventually and when the spaces became bigger and there was some fatigue on their side we had to take advantage. We had players on the bench ready to score.
“It was an excellent second-half performance that should have been a lot more comfortable than it actually was.”
Making the breakthrough had been problematic but Bolton’s defence once again looked as solid as a rock.
Evatt was pleased, even though it had not been the swaggering and entertaining football he had hoped for.
“We learned our lessons with what happened against Cambridge – it only takes one set piece, one second ball, and the ball is in the back of the net,” he said.
“I would have liked it to be more comfortable but I thought the second half performance was really good. We managed the ball well and looked more incisive but that was because the opposition tired from the work we did in the first half.
“We all want to see swashbuckling end-to-end stuff but we have to respect the opposition will have a gameplan. They are very organised, Steve (Cotterill) is a top manager, but we got there in the end.”
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