IAN Evatt reckons Wanderers deserved at least a point from a fractious 90 minutes against Morecambe.
Cole Stockton’s first half goal – gifted by a mistake from George Johnston – looked to have handed the struggling Shrimps their first away win since November.
But Jon Dadi Bodvarsson snatched an equaliser deep into stoppage time to keep the Whites’ distant play-off hopes alive.
“First half we were breath-taking at times and you have to understand against teams like that, when you create so many chances, and even against the low block, you have to score. We have to be more ruthless and clinical because we had some great opportunities, brilliant passages of play,” the manager said.
“And the last thing you need to do against a team that comes to camp like that is give them a goal.
“We gifted them a goal and then they had a little bit more belief, a bit more spirit, and it becomes really difficult.
“Second half we huffed and puffed. We became a bit panicky and emotional. The crowd were emotional and we started making irrational decisions, started to force it or play too safe, when all we need to do is be calm and composed, keep doing the things we do. Eventually it will open up because they can’t keep defending like that for 90 minutes.
“The one time we did move the ball around the box with tempo and speed, two-touch, around the box, we scored.
“We had 80 per cent possession, 22 shots, it was a game we really should have won. It has to be a learning curve for us all, there are no gimmes in this league.
“Our reputation as it builds and grows, more teams are going to come and do that. That first goal becomes all important and when you create chances you have to take them.
Tempers also flared on the touchline just before Morecambe’s goal, with Derek Adams given a yellow card for encroaching into the Bolton technical area.
“I just protect my team and my players,” Evatt said of an angry exchange. “I don’t want to see anyone lay hands on my players or get involved in my technical area.
“I am the Bolton Wanderers manager and I love my players. I will fight tooth and nail for them regardless or anything. I was protecting my team and my players.”
The result – which keeps Bolton seven points adrift of the top six – may yet be an important one int the grand scheme of things, Evatt added.
“Maybe – I have said there will be ups and downs. I haven’t yet seen the other results but from what I understand they have all won. We can’t look at it, we have to concentrate on ourselves.
“We are all a bit down, it was a game we should have won, but we did a lot of things right. Some of our play was exceptional. It would have been a travesty not to get anything.
“But this is also a new group and we are learning and progressing all the time. We have to understand that this will happen more often and we can’t give a goal away like that.
“Also, we have to make sure our forward players take their chances when we have them.”
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