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Nearly 30 years since Bruce Rioch called on Burnden Park to create a “cauldron of passion” in an effort to topple Wolves in the play-off semi-final, those same words have been invoked by Ian Evatt as his side prepare for a hat-trick of home games on their promotion charge.
Way back in 1995, Bolton had limped away from a 2-1 first-leg defeat at a partisan Molineux with their hopes of a Wembley final just about intact.
The canny Rioch sought to turn every possible thing in his favour for the second leg but shunned the press after the game. Only a chance phone call from the Bolton Evening News chief football writer of the day, Gordon Sharrock, produced one of the most famous calls-to-arms the club has ever seen.
“I want every fan to appeal for every foul, every throw in, every corner” said the legendary Bolton boss. “In fact, I want them appealing to turn everything that happens out there on the pitch to our advantage.
“We need the full and total backing of the supporters. That’s paramount. But more than that, they have got to be partisan.
“Why? Because that is what teams are doing to us when we go away.”
Rioch had also instructed his local reporter to call for a “cauldron of hate” – but after some discussion, and talk of possible repercussions from the Football Association, was bargained down to a “cauldron of passion.”
And his decision to focus his message squarely on the supporters produced a raucous atmosphere which inspired players to overturn the deficit. John McGinlay – who else – scored twice as the Whites booked a final against Reading in the capital 12 days later. The rest, as they say, is history.
Rioch’s words, uttered well before the internet took hold, have stayed relevant thanks to a few different graphics and memes created by The Bolton News in the last 10 years, some of which did the rounds on social media in midweek.
Evatt was alerted to a couple of the tweets on Wednesday night as he watched Derby drop a couple of points against Wycombe at Adams Park. And they provided some food for thought as he planned his own approach to the game against Portsmouth.
Rioch’s words struck a chord, and with 24,000 tickets already sold for Saturday’s game he was happy to summon the same sentiment in a game which could well shape Bolton’s current promotion destiny.
“I saw the quotes from Bruce and they were very poignant,” he said. “I would absolutely echo that sentiment. I want our fans to absolutely back the players to the hilt, to help us in every way, shape or form they can and appeal for absolutely everything. It can give us an advantage, just as Bruce said all those years ago.
“We have to make an intimidating and intense atmosphere, one that is as difficult as it can possibly be for the opposition.”
“We can’t sugar-coat it, it is absolutely huge,” he said. “But what a great game to be part of.
“If ever there was a marker of the journey this club has been on, this is it. Top of league one, an opportunity to be promoted with four game to go, in our hands, it is exactly what we wanted when I took the job four years ago.
“We have made great strides and I’ve seen the Bruce Rioch quotes that have been publicised and I love all that, hopefully the fans will read it and it can happen.
“One thing that sticks in my mind is that we were disappointed when we lost down there at Fratton Park but the atmosphere was electric. We need to make it as tough for them as they did for us.”
Pompey know that a win would see them seal the League One title, whereas a win for Wanderers could lift them above Derby County, depending on how they fare at home to Leyton Orient.
Peterborough United are also hoping to keep themselves in the chase with a win at sixth-placed Oxford United.
But for this weekend at least, the spotlight falls on the Toughsheet Stadium, with demand for media accreditation almost double what it tends to be for a regular fixture.
Evatt said: “It is a huge game for them and obviously their opportunity has increased as well with the Derby result.
“They are two good teams who will go toe-to-toe, there is only one way we will both approach it, and whoever plays best on the day will win. I hope that is us.”
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