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Ian Evatt admits the play-offs now look like Wanderers’ best chance of promotion after his side dropped two more points in a frustrating evening against Shrewsbury.
After twice coming from behind to level against the Shrews, Bolton could not find the killer third goal which would have reduced the gap between themselves and second-placed Derby County to a single point with two games to play.
Cameron Jerome and Paris Maghoma cancelled out goals from Daniel Udoh and Jordan Shipley but once again some big chances were missed – not least an effort from point-blank range from Nat Ogbeta that was cleared off the line after half time.
Jack Iredale and Jerome also hit the woodwork on a night where Portsmouth clinched the League One title and Peterborough United also gave themselves a fighting chance of the autos with victories elsewhere.
To make matters worse, Evatt also confirmed that Icelandic striker Jon Dadi Bodvarsson has sustained a calf injury which is unlikely to heal before the end of the play-offs.
“Without trying to sound like a broken record it was the story of the season,” Evatt complained. “We conceded two goals out of nothing, poor ones, which in games like this against opposition gameplans like theirs tonight it makes things extremely difficult. On the flip side of that we also missed crucial and critical chances at key stages of the game.
“The one second half, just after half time, had to be a goal. Five minutes in and the momentum with us, we probably go on to win the game. But that has been the story of the season, general performance is good but we concede sloppy goals at one end and don’t take our chances at the other.
“We need to be better than that. There is frustration and disappointment for a number of reasons. It is a game we should have won but we have said that too many times. It is another game where we lost key personnel, which has also made a big difference.
“Jon (Dadi Bodvarsson) has got a 3C tear in his calf, so he is done for the season. We have had to listen to the medical team in terms of Ricardo Santos, Gethin Jones and Josh Sheehan, and play the long game with those guys.
“It is not over, we must remember that, it is five football matches in our eyes. If a miracle happens, then so be it. But five wins – and we feel this team is capable of that.
“Disappointment can probably last tonight and to tomorrow to some extent but come Thursday we have to pick our heads up. Myself, the staff, the players, the fans, we all have to club together to make sure we get this place rocking and win five football matches. If we can do it at Wembley then everyone will enjoy themselves.
“There is disappointment but the time to analyse what went wrong isn’t now, it is the summer. And for now I we have to focus on five games.”
Wanderers are three points behind Derby, who go to Cambridge United on Saturday.
Should the Rams slip up, a win for Bolton against Port Vale could make things interesting again when they go to Peterborough United on the final day. But Evatt admits it is a long shot, and he has urged all involved to try and put the disappointment of the last few days behind them to try and gain some momentum going into the play-off games at the start of May.
“Anything is possible but we have to be realistic, Derby have a fantastic chance of sealing the deal on Saturday,” he said.
“It is another game we should have won and that is the frustrating part. We have to get ready for two more league games now and then the play-offs. We need momentum and I think, generally, the players are in pretty good form, we are just losing out on moments.
“I understand the frustration and disappointment, there is no-one more disappointed than me, but we have to let it go really quickly.
“For us to have any chance of winning the play-offs we need absolutely everyone positive. We need to have a go at what is left.”
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