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The message is clear to Wanderers as they tackle Wycombe in the first of 17 remaining games to claim a place in the Championship: “Trust the process!”
Ian Evatt remains adamant the style of football he has fostered over the last three-and-a-half years at Bolton can lead them back into the second tier after five years.
And perhaps more importantly, he says his players believe it too.
The Wanderers boss has experienced push back from some fans on the possession style of play he has championed since his non-league days at Barrow – but he remains convinced it can lead the club to promotion.
“The process has got us to here,” he told The Bolton News. Everyone can agree we have come a long way from the bottom of League Two four years ago.
“People speak highly about what we are doing here as a football club, on and off the pitch, it isn’t just the football either, it’s what we do off the field, our fanbase, the lot.
“What we wanted to do was put this football club back on the map and it is time now for us to get to the next phase.
“We have put ourselves into a brilliant position. As things stand right now we are in the best position because if we win our games in hand, we are top of the league.
“It is in our hands, how we wanted it to be. For us we need to trust the process, what got us here and what got us performing well.”
Wycombe briefly dipped their toe into the Championship a couple of seasons back under Gareth Ainsworth but after his long reign ended last season, Matt Bloomfield has picked up the baton and added a slightly different spin.
The Chairboys signed five players in January – Matt Butcher, Beryly Lubala, Gideon Kodua, Chem Campbell and Richard Kone – which have raised hopes that the club can push back into the top half and potentially make a late dash for the play-offs.
Beating Peterborough United 5-2 last weekend did Bolton a favour, but also ensures they arrive at the Toughsheet Stadium in an upbeat mood.
“They have come into a bit of form, invested quite heavily in January getting some new recruits,” Evatt said.
“Saturday was a strange game when you watch it back because after 40 minutes you’d have never guessed it would end 5-2, but it did, and it is a fantastic result because Peterborough are a really good team, as we know.
“They have won their last three – Brighton Under-21s, which is harder to pitch and gauge, but they beat Cheltenham 3-1 and we know how much they have improved of late. To beat Peterborough 5-2 is a an excellent result, so they are clearly on an upward curve.
“They have a manager who is still trying to implement his own ideas and his own style on a club which had an identity for a very long time.
“They recruited well in January and they have some dangerous players in the squad.
“We know what to expect from them, we know what is coming, and I still think they there is a foundation of the traditional Wycombe still there. They have tried to add some layers on to the top of that.
“But for us it is about our own performance level and getting to the levels I know are there within us. If we can do that, we’ll be a very difficult team to beat.”
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