Wanderers made it back-to-back wins with success over Crawley.
Bolton Wanderers boss Ian Evatt stated that his team is now entering some sort of rhythm as the club finally begins to regain momentum after the disappointing play-off disappointment last year. After a dire start to the season, the Trotters got their second league victory in a row, beating the managerless Crawley Town by 2-0 at the Broadfield Stadium. Kyle Dempsey had opened the scoring with just two minutes elapsed, with John McAtee sealing a comfortable 2-0 win for Bolton, who were fresh from thrashing Reading with a 5-2 scoreline.
Evatt admits that the emotional hangover of last season's play-off final defeat at the hands of Oxford United is still very much in the minds of the players, but he remains adamant that the team has finally turned a corner. "I have never lost faith with the players," Evatt insisted. "There was a bit of a backlash from the play-off disappointment, but the quality is still there." He went on to say that his team is chock full of attacking talent and that success in the future will come down to their ability to gel.
With Bolton having failed to get promoted via the playoffs in the last two seasons, the weight of near misses has undoubtedly dovetailed on the team. Their three successive league defeats at the beginning of this season hinted at more trouble to come. But Evatt remains convinced the current reviving trend has marked the beginning of a run of far longer sustained positive form. "It's just another little step," he explained. "But I'm confident there are a lot more to come."
His forwards have been responding particularly well of late, pleased Wanderers coach John. "We've got four very good forwards all looking to score goals," he said. "I told them to play as a unit because it doesn't matter who is on the pitch as long as we get the results and goals we need." Moving into the international break, Evatt wants his side to stay concentrated as they have two more games before the break. "We have two games coming up this week before the break, and if we can get results from them, I think we'll be right back where we want to be," he said.
In sharp contrast, Crawley Town continued on a hapless run under interim manager Ben Gladwin. The side has managed just one point from the last five league matches. Their campaign, however, took another blow when Gladwin had to replace Scott Lindsey, who joined MK Dons and, nevertheless, commended his side for keeping their nerves in place at the time of turmoil: "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," Gladwin said after the game.
The interim manager, 32, said he was stung by the fact the cutting edge was missing on his side, particularly in the attacking third. "At the top part of the pitch, we need to show more teeth," he said. "We did not threaten their goal enough, and we need to make the opposition feel under more pressure." Gladwin, however, remains optimistic considering how his team would react to recent challenges on attitude and commitment. Gladwin's maiden match in charge provided an insight into his tactics as he looked to steady the ship at Crawley. "I'm loving my first game in charge." he said
Albeit admitting the late McAtee goal that sealed the game for Bolton was a bitter pill to swallow. "It was a frustrating start, conceding from a set-piece, but we wrestled control of the game and could have done more." Bolton's convincing win puts them in a stronger position as they continue to strive in the League Two table and leave disappointment behind. For Crawley, the search for a permanent manager continues, and things do not look too bright ahead with them. Gladwin's captaincy may offer stability, but they will require clinical flashes that elude them now to make things right and change their fortunes.
