IAN Evatt reckons Friday’s night’s win against Crewe sets things up perfectly for a celebratory Sunday at the UniBol.
Legends like Jay Jay Okocha, Ivan Campo, Kevin Davies, Jussi Jaaskelainen and John McGinlay will lace up their boots again for a charity game to raise funds for Motor Neurone Disease.
The match, which kicks-off at 1pm, will see players from some of the most successful modern eras managed by Sam Allardyce, against Evatt’s current team.
And though it is all for a good cause, the Bolton boss is glad that fans and players can go into the game in a positive frame of mind.
“Of course, it’s about more than the football – but we still want to win,” he said. “It’s a great game for everybody because the club welcomes back some legends and obviously a legendary manager which is great for us to be on the pitch and be a part of it.
“It’s for an amazing cause, and it speaks volumes for this football club past and present about what they’re able to do and create in a short period of time.
“But it would have left a bit of a bitter taste if we hadn’t done the business against Crewe and we have done the business, so hopefully now everyone can come and support.
“We will take it seriously. I may dust the boots off. As I said in the week, I’ve now retired as a centre-back, I feel I’ve completed centre-back, and I’ve now become a number 10.”
💷 Cash turnstiles in operation for @GethinJones8 Match for MND!
— Bolton Wanderers Ticket Office (@BWFC_Tickets) November 13, 2021
🎫Tickets will be sold direct from the turnstiles at blocks E and H of the @frankingsenseuk South Stand Lower Tier, from 11.30am.
Adults - £10
Over 65s & Under 18s - £5
⚽️ Kick-Off is 1pm!#BWFC 🐘🏰 https://t.co/pZERmJDTKX
Wanderers registered their first clean sheet in 10 games in the win against Crewe, and only their third of the whole campaign.
Evatt was happy to see some confidence creep back into his defence after a difficult October in the league but is unlikely to start shifting to a more defensive set-up any time soon.
“Clean sheets are important, and people keep telling me that we need clean sheets to win football games, but the last time I understood football, a clean sheet means you draw 0-0, you’ve still got to score!” he said.
“You can get 46 clean sheets and still get relegated. I very much view the game that we just need to outscore the opposition, but obviously if you keep a clean sheet we only need the one goal.
“I thought defensively we were sound, we dominated the ball until we went to 2-0 really, and then we became a bit edgy because of recent results and they are playing without fear. It slightly becomes a different game, but in the main the most important thing is a victory.”
Evatt felt Wanderers were well worth the win, having kept Crewe down to just two shots on target.
“I don’t think they had anything really,” he said. “I think they had a set play that Joel saved and that one that one that came off the post right at the end which was from a set play, but from open play I thought we managed them perfectly well. We had the ball for large parts, we controlled it and I thought the two centre backs were really aggressive with their two centre forwards so I’m pleased.”
Meanwhile, Wanderers have been drawn at home to Fleetwood Town in the second round of the Papa John's Trophy. The game will played on the week commencing November 29.
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