Bolton boss Evatt on Oxford win, equalising twice in victory and play-offs

Bolton Wanderers came from behind twice and scored a late winner against Oxford United on the road to narrow the gap between themselves and the League One play-offs.

Wanderers went behind early on at the Kassam Stadium due to Billy Bodin’s great free-kick, but Declan John equalised immediately afterwards as Bolton drew level.

Bodin struck again for the second time later on in the first, but Marlon Fossey drew Wanderers level again for the second time in the encounter after half-time.

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The game looked like it was heading towards the spoils being shared, but Amadou Bakayoko struck before full-time to give Wanderers all three points for a huge win against the U’s as Bolton went seven games unbeaten and are currently eight points from the play-offs.

After the game, Ian Evatt’s gave his immediate reaction to the win and here’s what he had to say.

Are you beginning to wonder?

“No. I’ve told you actions, not words! That was a really good game of football, two really good teams, a great advert for League One and five real high quality goals and a moment of real brilliance has won us the game but I thought first half in particular, we were excellent.

“We went punch for punch with a team that are really dangerous and score lots of goals. I think they’ve only had one home defeat since October, they’re a really good team, well coached, but we’re coming here full of confidence and willing to go punch for punch and the again the bench has made a difference and we’ve managed to get over the line.”

You were twice behind, that tells you a lot about the spirit, character and desire?

“That’s something that we’ve spoken about at length behind the scenes about our character and personality. Our mindset is really strong but they are really together.

“It’s my job to keep them together and it’s becoming more difficult because we’ve got so many good players and good options and there’s people disappointed every week.

“But I’ve said that disappointment can be aimed to towards me. I’m happy to take it, but as a group they need to stick together and back each other and support each other because we have to share the responsibility out. We’ve got so many games to go in a short spell.

“Everybody is going to be needed and today we made some changes and the boys that came in did great. The boys that came on today did great and Tuesday will be a different team again, but we’ve got that luxury now.”

You’re not surprised that people are beginning to wonder (about the play-offs), even if you aren’t?

“Look, we’re still a long way off. We’ve still got lots of work to do. There’s 15 more games. I had a points total and a target in my head that we’ve shared with the players and that’s one tick.

“We need plenty more before we even start to think about it. For now we have to concentrate on working hard and improving and keeping the group in one piece and if we do that, we’ve got a chance but it’s only a chance.”

Earlier on in the season if you went behind, you maybe struggled to get back into it, but it must be pleasing to see the mentality to come back twice and go on and win?

“Yeah. We’ve worked and spoke about it at length and it helps with results and performances because when you’ve been used to winning games again, it breeds confidence and I feel like we can score plenty of goals in every game.

“I think we are dangerous, we’re a threat, we attack with speed and we showed that with the third goal. I thought it was a brilliant goal and worthy of winning any game.”