Bolton manager Ian Evatt believes his side are getting back on track after the “backlash” that followed their play-off final defeat.
Wanderers made it back-to-back victories with a 2-0 triumph over managerless Crawley.
Kyle Dempsey’s early goal and a late strike from substitute John McAtee sealed the win as Bolton built on their 5-2 home win over Reading.
Bolton have failed to win promotion through the play-offs in the last two seasons and Evatt admitted last term’s final disappointment against Oxford took its toll.
He said: “I’ve never lost faith with the players. There was a bit of a backlash from the play-off disappointment, but the quality is still there.
“We’ve got four very good forwards all looking to score goals. I told them to play as a unit because it doesn’t matter who is on the pitch so long as we get the results and goals we need.”
Bolton had suffered three straight league defeats before beating Reading, but Evatt believes the good times are on the way back.
He added: “It is just another small step, but I’m confident there are a lot more to come.
“We are focused on two more games this week before the international break and, if we can get the results from them, I believe we will be back to where we want to be.”
Crawley have now taken just one point from their last five league games and interim manager Ben Gladwin admitted his side needed to “show more teeth” at the top of the pitch.
Former Reds captain Gladwin, placed in temporary charge following Scott Lindsey’s departure to take over at MK Dons, said: “The players could have easily gone under after losing a manager, but we’re all pulling in the same direction and it was a shame we didn’t get the result.
“After a tough week, I’m immensely proud of the boys. Large parts of it I really liked and a few parts cost us.
“At the top part of the pitch we need to show more teeth. We didn’t threaten their goal enough and we need to make the opposition feel under pressure more.”
Gladwin, 32, admitted he was “loving” his first game in charge until McAtee’s late clincher.
He added: “It was a frustrating start, conceding from a set-piece, but we wrestled control of the game.”
Let's start our Daily Laugh today. The reason why Man City lost 5 matches in a row Erling Haaland lol Cucuruku Cook that thing… This The Man United cycle. This Please stay tuned on Daily Laugh. There will be more fun tomorrow!(Credit: Justtoonit, originaltrollfootball, FootballLaughss, PL__OOC)...
The Portuguese has promised to not sign any Sporting CP stars in the winter window.However, all bets are off in the summer, with A Bola stating that Geovany Quenda is the main target.United are said to be preparing an offer of £50M plus bonuses to secure the young winger.Amorim can use Quenda in either wing-back position, while he is also capable of playing in the front three.Another player U...
The Algerian's contract expires in the summer of 2026 and he is believed to be eyeing a move away from Molineux.Rayan Ait-Nouri is wanted by Man UtdThat has put United are on red alert for a player as Amorim has made signing a left-back a priority.He wants to boost his options give Luke Shaw's injury record.Shaw could also eventually move into the back-three once the former Sporting Lisbon manager...
Mohamed Salah has said he is yet to receive a formal contract offer from Liverpool, adding that he is "more out than in" regarding whether he will stay at the club next season.Salah, whose contract is set to expire next summer, has enjoyed an impressive individual campaign, having scored 12 goals in all competitions this term, including a brace in Liverpool's 3-2 comeback win over Southampton on S...
Real Madrid monitoring Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite🚨👀 #Branthwaite is attracting the attention of 🇪🇺 top clubs.📃 #RealMadrid included the CB in their list of potential January targets, while 🏴 teams continue to monitor him ahead of June.💰 #Everton would like to keep him but are also open to evaluating bids >€70m. 🐓⚽ pic.twitter.com/5lpoomMdyp— Rudy Galetti (@RudyGaletti) Novem...
Let's start our Daily Laugh today. EPL Week 12 Ipswich 1-1 Man Utd Southampton 2-3 Liverpool LOL OUCH Cristiano Ronaldo now has 500 more Goals than Henry When a taxi driver asked Messi to take photo of him with Mascherano... Please stay tuned on Daily Laugh. There will be more fun tomorrow!(Credit: Just toon it, trollfootball, The Football Arena, AZR Organization)...
Leicester City open talks with Van Nistelrooy over head coach job🚨🗣️ #Leicester have approached Ruud #vanNistelrooy to explore the negotiation margins to replace Steve Cooper on their bench.📃 David #Moyes and other names are under evaluation, but #LCFC would like to convince the 🇳🇱 manager as a priority. 🐓⚽ #Transfers pic.twitter.com/xsz3TT9q7P— Rudy Galetti (@RudyGaletti) November 24, 2024H...
Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe was happy scoring in their win at Leganes.Real won 3-0 on Sunday, with Mbappe opening the scoring on the night.He later told RMTV: "I started well, with rhythm with my teammates, in a different position. As I said the first day I arrived here, I can play in many different positions and I will play to give my best, it is the story of my career, I play on the right,...
Leicester City have confirmed they have sacked manager Steve Cooper. The 44-year-old took charge for the final time on. Saturday, with the Foxes beaten at home by Chelsea in the Premier League.He leaves with Leicester 16th in the table, just two points above the relegation zone after being promoted under Enzo Maresca last season.Steve Cooper after Leicester's 2-1 loss to Chelsea.In a released stat...
Ruben Amorim said Manchester United will have to "suffer for a long period" before his methods help the club enjoy success again after a 1-1 draw at Ipswich Town denied the new head coach a debut win in his first game in charge.Marcus Rashford's opening goal after 81 seconds had given United a dream start at Portman Road, but Omari Hutchinson's equaliser sealed a point for Kieran McKenna's team an...
- 1 Transfer news & rumours LIVE
- 2 Ex-Prem ace asked Liverpool star for his sister's phone number
- 3 Daily Laugh - Antony and his latest ManUtd session
- 4 Mascherano nears Miami; Martino exits
- 5 €60-70m could bring star to Liverpool or Man Utd
- 6 Chloe Kelly sends fans wild in daring outfit at GQ Men of the Year
- 7 Chelsea make Nkunku sale call amid ManUtd interest
- 8 Mia Khalifa slams rumours of 'affair with ex-Prem star Julian Alvarez'
- 9 Amorim targets Sporting Lisbon's Quenda
- 10 Thierry Henry poses with rarely-seen partner Andrea on red carpet