IAN Evatt admits Wanderers’ problems in both penalty areas is becoming a “recipe for disaster” in League One.

A 2-0 defeat against Wycombe leaves Bolton hovering just three points above the relegation zone in 18th spot.

Goals from Brandon Hanlan and Jack Grimmer sentenced Bolton to a fourth consecutive defeat, and Evatt believes his side’s current problems are all of their own making.

“I think the difference in the game was in both boxes,” he said after the final whistle.

“The lads are devoid of confidence at the moment and so the first goal is vital in these games. We had the opportunity to get it, we were on top in the first half, but the last team you want to concede a goal against is Wycombe. They are experienced and manage the game really well.

“We didn’t start the second half well at all and then it was game over.”

Pressure is beginning to build on Wanderers, who have seen their solid start to the campaign ebb away over a poor winter.

Injuries and illnesses have played their part – but while Evatt continues to remodel the team in the January window, he says the current squad has to find a way of reversing the losing trend.

“The search is done, we know who we want,” he said of his recruitment search. “We are just waiting for the players to become available.

“We are working hard to get the deals over the line but for now we have to keep going.

“These lads have got to step up to the plate, take more responsibility, have more accountability and be better than we are at the moment.

“There wasn’t much in that game but when you lose the battles in both boxes you end up losing football matches.

“Pressure builds and we have to find a way to break this cycle. I think there were some positives – Marlon was excellent again and will get fitter and stronger, Gethin returning and they linked up well in the second half. Dion looked sharp in the first half and then starts cramping up because he hasn’t had a lot of football. The last thing I want is him breaking down.

“There wasn’t a massive amount in the game in general but in both boxes they were more clinical than us.

“We just find a way of losing games at the moment and we have to change that really quickly.”

Wanderers continued their frustrating habit of conceding the first goal, something they have done on 19 separate occasions this season – three more than their nearest ‘rivals’ in League One, Crewe and Shrewsbury.

Evatt felt his side created good enough chances to have put themselves into the lead before Hanlan’s preventable opener.

“The first goal is huge and we hold defenders and goalkeepers accountable all the time when mistakes are made and we concede a goal but we have to hold the forwards accountable too for not taking chances, it has a huge impact on the game,” he said.

“We have to find a way of getting that first goal and then I think you will see a different team.

“At times tonight, first half an hour, we were very good. For a spell in the second half we were good again.

“But it is the bits in between – we are not taking chances at one end, conceding really poor goals at the other end, and that is a recipe for disaster at the moment.

“All I will say is that Dion and Marlon will get better, we are better now that Gethin in back, and Aaron (Morley) is in the building now. Hopefully there is more to come soon as well.

“Yeah, we are in a bad spell and we need to keep fighting.”