Home
Ian Evatt thanked the Wanderers fans for getting his side over the line against Barnsley – and hopes he can repay them with a win at Wembley.
After a memorable night at the Toughsheet Stadium the Bolton boss admitted he would need some time to digest what happened over a frantic 90 minutes.
But Evatt was sure of one thing after the final whistle, that the atmosphere among the home fans was the best he had ever witnessed.
From way before kick-off the noise levels were high among the 24,518 in the ground, and in the final moments of the match as Barnsley poured everything forward in search of an aggregate equaliser, their backing proved vital.
“I really think they made a difference for us, the last 10 minutes when we needed lifting they stepped up and did it,” Evatt said.
“I know it is an incredible expense to get to Wembley. Hopefully everyone had a great experience last season and we really need their support.
“It is a quick turnaround. We will enjoy getting through now but it isn’t about celebrating, it is about refocussing and really taking it on, making sure we produce a 90-minute performance now at Wembley.”
Wanderers had started the day in firm control, leading 3-1, but Sam Cosgrove’s first-half header provided the first bout of nerves, quickly solved by goals from Aaron Collins and Eoin Toal before the break.
Once again, the Whites should have been home and dry but another Cosgrove goal and a deflected effort from Adam Phillips made for an uncomfortable finale.
“I thought first half we were excellent, we played more football, we showed incisiveness, I felt like we had control when they scored and it was almost against the run of play,” Evatt summarised.
“We reacted fast, Aaron producing a moment of magic, then we got ahead from a set play. But after that the game is meandering to nothing. We had a big chance where George probably should be more selfish and take it on himself but then a lapse in concentration or a tad of over-confidence and we give them the momentum. They had absolutely nothing to lose from there and could throw the kitchen sink at us.
“It was always going to be that way. We had everything to lose, they had nothing to lose.
“We had to dig in, fight and scrap. Over the two legs I think we just about deserved it.
“Credit to them, they played great second half, showed unbelievable spirit when the game could have drifted away from them they kept going.
“It is always a tough game with Barnsley, we know that, but now we just have to focus for one more game.”
Source