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Ian Evatt feels Cameron Jerome deserves respect for the role he is playing at Wanderers.
The veteran striker scored his first goal for the club in the 3-1 win at Accrington Stanley, which put Bolton into the quarter final draw.
Aaron Morley scored a penalty before Kyle Dempsey capped off an exciting game with a superb finish from the edge of the box eight minutes from full time.
Jerome has made 20 appearances this season but his only previous start had been against Barrow in the Carabao Cup. He was named up front alongside Jon Dadi Bodvarsson, and Evatt felt the experienced partnership were instrumental in securing the win.
“They set the tone for us,” he said. “When Cameron and Jon came together at the weekend they looked a real threat and a handful and tonight they were again.
“I thought Cameron showed exactly what he can bring. He has had limited opportunity, recently, and plays a slightly different role to the others but his finish was superb.”
Jerome appeared to pull up shortly before being replaced by Victor Adeboyejo with 15 minutes left at the Wham Stadium and leaving the field to a loud ovation from more than 2,300 travelling supporters.
Evatt is happy to report there was no serious issue.
“It was just cramp,” he said. “He hasn’t played for that length of time for so long.
“Then he sprints 40-50 yards back to press the ball, it was a great example of how to be a good professional.
“He needs respect. His career has been unbelievable.
“I am privy to what he brings behind the scenes and off the pitch, not everyone sees the value of that. I do every single day. We respect and appreciate him and I am delighted for Cameron right now.”
Dempsey’s thunderbolt at the end of the game gave the massed ranks of Bolton supporters something to cheer in a chilly second half.
“That is Demps at his best. The roll inside and finish,” Evatt observed.
“He is starting to get back into a rhythm as well, which is great. He had that back issue and it has taken him a little while to get going but I thought we saw the best of him there.”
Wanderers made seven changes on the night, bringing Zac Ashworth and Luke Mattheson in for starts on either wing. Jack Iredale also made his return from injury on the left side of the back three.
“It was good to see Jack, Zac, young Luke did well,” Evatt said. “There are lots of positives to take.
“I am just so pleased with their attitude. This is a hard game to get up for, especially on the back of Sunday and the league campaign is going OK. We have some big games coming up, then there is the replay. It would have been easy to take our eye off the prize but we didn’t.
“We showed the right mentality and that is something we have worked very hard on off the pitch.”
Wanderers had toppled Accrington at the semi-final stage last season but after drawing at Luton on Sunday, there were question marks on whether the club’s Bristol Street Motors Trophy defence would be one game too far?
“We spoke about that – and then you throw in last season and the heartbreak of the semi-final, we knew Accrington would be highly motivated,” Evatt said. “This is always a highly challenging game, and they made it tough again.
“We just have to reset and go again now. We haven’t got time to pat ourselves on the back, think about what might be, it is just all about the next game and Cheltenham.
“They have just had a great result against Portsmouth, we need to make sure we fully at the races and ready to go.”
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