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Ian Evatt admitted his side looked “petrified” as they took only a point from their trip to Stevenage.
A goalless draw at the Lamex Stadium felt unfulfilling as Bolton struggled to break down their hosts in the second half, leaving a packed-out away following feeling disappointed.
Derby’s win against Blackpool means they have opened up a six-point gap on third place and though Evatt says his team can still catch the Rams, his frustration with the result at Stevenage was evident after the final whistle.
“It was a tough day, a tough afternoon and this is a difficult place to come,” he said.
“The conditions, the way they play made it tough for us and I think we looked a fearful team. We looked like we were afraid to lose. The type of team we want to be is fearless, forward-thinking, brave in possession, but it had a feel to it like it was ours to lose.
“At this minute in time it is not ours to lose, it is someone else’s.
“I think that is an important point and it keeps it very much alive but you saw with Barnsley, Peterborough, the one last weekend, nobody has a God-given right.
“This was arguably our toughest game, other than the last of the season, and a point away from home is never a bad one. We have four from six at home now and we have to win the lot of them, it’s as simple as that.
“We have a chance now on Monday to put the right performance in, which takes it down to three points with our extra game, then Derby play on Tuesday. The pressure is on them a little bit.
“We just looked like we were afraid to lose today, rather than grasping to win it.
Wanderers managed to put only one shot on target in the second half, as the home goal was left relatively untested in the latter stages.
Cameron Jerome did have a good chance early in the game and Will Forrester hit the woodwork with a header but the best opportunities went to Stevenage as they pounced on some poor decisions on the ball.
“The final delivery has to improve, and we had worked on it all week, so that is a frustration of mine,” he said. “We didn’t show that moment of quality.
“We had moments, we had good positions, and hit the bar first half with a well-worked set piece routine.
“There were a couple of signs of sloppiness which really gifted the game to them and we were probably fortunate on those two occasions. But other than that it was us trying to play, and them on set plays and counters.
“For us to break that type of team we have to be braver on the ball. I know it is tough on that type of pitch, I get it, I get the wind, but we have to leave the excuses and go and perform.
“It felt like we were petrified of giving something away. We were waiting for them to give it to us or a moment of magic, rather than taking a collective responsibility.
“We had an honest chat there. I still think it is wide open, there is a lot of football to be played, but we have to be fearless team I want them to be.”
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