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Ian Evatt feels Wanderers are peaking at just the right time for the League One play-offs.
With a two-legged semi-final against Barnsley next up, the Bolton boss feels confident that his players are in the right frame of mind to book a second Wembley appearance of the season.
The Whites have lost once in their last 10 in all competitions and though an injury to Gethin Jones cast a shadow on Sunday’s win at Bristol Rovers, Evatt has picked up on some encouraging signs heading into this weekend’s home leg.
“I think we are in a really good place,” he told The Bolton News. “This is a good group of players who are extremely confident. But we have to go out there and prove it.
“A season of 81 points is a very good effort and I know we have left a few out there but I think most clubs could say the same thing.
“In terms of progression that is a huge step forwards and now we have to go and prove what we can do in the play-offs. I think we are just coming to the boil at the right time.”
Evatt had made eight changes at Rovers to try and give players like Conor Bradley, James Trafford, Dion Charles and Kyle Dempsey some time to clear minor ailments.
He was happy, however, with the attitude shown in what was effectively a dead rubber, and admits some of the performances have given him something to think about for Barnsley’s visit.
“If you look at the last 10 games we have lost once,” he said. “And I don’t think we need to speak about that game any more but I don’t think we should have lost it.
“We are in good spirits and good form, getting bodies back all the time, and the way they have applied themselves to training has been great. It is hard when you have already achieved something to keep that level of performance and intensity up because that is when we are at our best, the most intense.
“They have done everything we have asked them to do and come out the other side of it with a win, so now we have that hunger and determination to attack the play-offs.”
Wanderers have already done homework on the Tykes to make sure they are as prepared and informed as possible.
“We work tirelessly and Chris (Markham) and his analysis department has been working tirelessly to come up with different plans. We have had meetings in the afternoons to help judge what we think the opposition will do and how we think we can go up against them,” he said.
“We will be ready but now isn’t the time for pats on the back. We need to get our head down and work hard because if we don’t end up getting promoted then I won’t be happy and I don’t think the players will either. We will give it our best shot.”
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