IAN Evatt has backed his players to deliver on the “big stage” under severe play-off pressure against Barnsley this evening.
Wanderers travel to Oakwell for the opening leg, aiming to prepare for their home game on Tuesday (May 7) at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.
Evatt has focused on claiming a positive outcome, rejecting suggestions that his side has significantly underperformed in such pressurised conditions to yet.
Bolton concluded the season with two wins (at home against Derby and Oxford), six draws, and two defeats versus top-six rivals, while Barnsley won two, drew three, and lost five games.
Evatt has defended the Whites in the next game in South Yorkshire, stating that their performance in big games has not been as dismal as some may believe.
“It is something that has become a narrative, and you could probably give me occasions where we have underperformed, but I could throw back occasions where we have performed,” he said in an interview with The Bolton News.
“I think it’s been mixed. There have been discrepancies, and we have missed out on some occasions.
“In the Derby game, for example, on the big stage, I believe we performed admirably but did not receive the desired outcome, which eventually lost us our goal.
“If you look at previous games – Wembley last year, Derby at home, Blackpool at home, Portsmouth – we didn’t win but behaved admirably.
“There are benefits and downsides, but that is football. What is gone is gone; we must execute now. It is now.
“This group differs slightly from last season’s group, as does the game. It is up to us to go and execute, but I am confident they will feel the same way.”
Wanderers have had a full week to prepare for the game, and Victor Adeboyejo and Paris Maghoma have returned to strengthen the team that drew on the last day at Peterborough United.
Evatt says there is no long-term impact from missing out on a top two berth, and that discussions this week have focused on the great accomplishments his players have already made this season.
“It has just been reaffirming to them that they are a really good team,” he told reporters. “We’ve done some very wonderful things this season, and sometimes when you don’t meet your primary goal, you lose perspective of what you’ve accomplished. That includes myself, because I am not one to look back; I want to achieve more.
“We need to remind ourselves that we scored more goals in a calendar year than any Bolton team in history, we won 7-0 here – the best scoreline the stadium has ever seen, we have more points than last season, won more, lost less, the goal difference is better, and my individual record is comparable to any of the post-war Bolton managers.
“In the midst of criticism and sour feelings, it’s important to keep perspective on what we’ve accomplished as a group thus far.
“But, really, it’s about performing on the big stage and under pressure, which is something we need to do at Oakwell on Friday before moving on to the next game.” Our attention has been on this game all week, and I sense the players are in a good position; they let it go swiftly and had nice meetings early in the week; we talked about the good and let the bad go, for the time being.”
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