Bolton Wanderers vs Shrewsbury Town

FROM THE MANAGER
IAN EVATT
WELCOME TO THE UNIVERSITY OF BOLTON STADIUM
FOR THIS AFTERNOON’S SKY BET LEAGUE ONE
FIXTURE AGAINST SHREWSBURY TOWN.
​A warm welcome also to Steve
Cotterill, his staff and players,
and to those who have travelled
up from Shropshire.
​With three successive home
games before the trip to Bristol
Rovers next month, we find
ourselves in a great position
to control our own destiny and
secure a place in the play-offs.
​I am writing these notes shortly
after our draw at Burton Albion,
which in all honesty should have
been a victory.
​After showing great resilience
at Oxford United to claim the
win, I thought we would go on to
repeat that after we took another
early lead.
​In my opinion it was our best
performance since Wembley and
we were a little disappointed not
to come back with the win.
​They were always going to have
one or two moments. James
Trafford made an excellent save
and was then unlucky with the
goal.
​But we had enough chances to
win two or three games and it
one of those nights when we just
couldn’t quite get that goal. We
deserved it, we didn’t get it, but
it’s probably a decent point and
there was lots to like about what
we did.
​If we play like that for these
next four games, we’ll have no
problems. We’re still in the top
six, which is all-important. We still
have that extra game.
​It’s down to us and in our hands,
so we have to keep going and
do the business.
​We’ve had to do the hard yards
since Wembley. We’ve had three
away games. We’re unbeaten in
all of those and won two of them.
​But each remaining game,
including today’s against
Shrewsbury Town, will pose
challenges that we must be ready
for. Nothing will be taken for
granted as we look to get those
points on the board. We have
to - and will - keep working hard.
Resilience will be a key factor as
much as anything else.
​A team managed by Steve will
always be a difficult opponent
and though today’s visitors have
suffered some indifferent results
of late, they are a good team and
will be working hard to frustrate
us on our own patch. We will
need to be patient, dig in deep
and take our chances when they
come.
​A win today will see us
strengthen our prospects of that
top-six finish and then we have
the opportunity to get some of
the other boys we have been
missing through injury back.
​Your support, home and away,
has been magnifient and the
atmosphere you create has been
amazing. You all still have an
important role to play, especially
with these three quickfire home
games.
A noisy and passionate University
of Bolton Stadium can be a
daunting prospect for visiting
teams, so please keep up the
excellent support and hopefully
we can pack it out.
​It was pleasing to hear about
season ticket sales for next
season. That we have already
sold more than this season’s
total is quite astonishing,
especially given the tough
economic climate we are all
experiencing.
But since the first day I walked
into this wonderful club as the
manager of Bolton Wanderers, I
have always felt that you are fully
invested in the journey Sharon
and the Board are taking this
club on and the progress we are
collectively making.
​Enjoy the game,
Ian.
www.bwfc.co.uk
The Wanderer | 5