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Ian Evatt had a simple message to those writing off his side’s automatic promotion chances after Saturday’s frustrating 3-3 draw against Charlton: “We’re not done yet!”
With a third of the season remaining, Wanderers have fallen three points behind the top two, but crucially still have games in hand on both Derby County and Portsmouth.
The Whites have won one of their last four games, drawing the other three, at a time when they have also lost big players like Ricardo Santos, Dion Charles and Nathan Baxter to injury.
Evatt remains adamant that his side will be a different prospect when at full strength – and believes the players who have stepped into the breach in a busy February deserve credit for staying unbeaten.
“I am very much a glass half-full person and there are not many teams in the country where you could take the players we have got out of our team at the moment and still find ways to get results consistently,” Evatt told The Bolton News.
“Yes, home games we need to win, and we are getting to the stage of the season where we need to be winning, there is no denying that. But there is still an awful lot of football to go.
“There is a long way to go and it is still very much in our hands. Considering the adversity we have faced, I am pleased and proud with that, and we’ll do our very best to keep marching forward.”
After losing an early lead, Wanderers were sloppy in defence and twice had to come back from behind to get a point against Charlton.
Asked how concerned he was about his side’s defending on the day, Evatt said some allowances had to be made for the absence of regular number one, Baxter, and Santos.
“They were just instances, though, it wasn’t as if we were getting carved open or under any pressure,” he said of the errors.
“That happens when you get some changes and disruption in your team. We have lost our captain and our goalkeeper, so there is bound to be some people affected.
“Having said that, the lads who have stepped in have done great, they have done really well in the circumstances.
“We’re not here to feel sorry for ourselves. I want to say, OK, everything is against us, let’s continue with our togetherness and keep moving forwards. There is a long way to go yet. We are not done.”
Paris Maghoma caught the eye with his second-half performance, which included a fine goal. The Brentford midfielder very nearly proved the match-winner with a second effort blazed over the bar but Evatt was happy to see him back to his best.
“Paris is a good player and the things we have talked about, we are adding goals and assists to his game,” he said.
“He has everything but he just need to become more consistent. He is a young player and he understands what it is about. There will be nobody more frustrated than him about the second chance, either, but he did show us what he could do and it was a very good performance.”
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