WANDERERS passed a significant test at Port Vale which has left Ian Evatt feeling positive about the season ahead.

Having watched his side fight tooth and nail to secure a point with 10 men at Vale Park, the Bolton boss reasoned that the Whites could no longer be considered ‘a soft touch’.

That has been the accusation often laid at Wanderers’ feet in the last couple of years as they struggled to overcome physical and direct opponents, or difficult playing conditions.

They had all of the above on Saturday, much to Evatt’s delight.

“When you are this type of team, every time, even me and our own fans question whether we can do it in this kind of game and occasion,” the manager said. “We haven’t performed in them but after that, I don’t think there can be any doubt that we can.

“If we can fight like we have today, then we are going to take some stopping.

“We have got a long, long way to go and I’m really pleased and proud of the players for what they’ve done. Now we must be fully focused and ready for Morecambe on Tuesday.”

Wanderers will be without suspended captain Ricardo Santos tomorrow night, with the club having no route to appeal the second yellow card handed to him by referee Ross Joyce at Vale.

The incident led to goalkeeper coach Matt Gilks being booked and Evatt being sent off for his comments towards officials at the half-time break.

It was the second successive game that Joyce had sent off Santos, the previous occasion at Morecambe last season was overturned by the FA.

Will Aimson will most likely deputise, having contributed to an excellent second-half defensive performance.

“You can’t (lose your head) and if we are going to achieve anything this season, then there will be scenarios like that where you are going to have your backs to the wall,” Evatt said. “There will be rough decisions, rough games, rough challenges, and we have to stay focused, stay disciplined and make sure that we do the job and I thought they did that second half.

“It was me that lost the discipline at half-time because I care so much and it matters when I feel like we were offended.

“But we’ll file a report and see what happens. I think all the press and all the media should really speak about how proud of our team we are and how much effort and determination we showed.”

Evatt has no worries about whether his players can pick themselves up again for the Morecambe game and hinted that he plans to shuffle some of his squad to keep the team fresh.

“Unfortunately for Morecambe we have a magnificent squad of players and we can change it up and make sure we’re fully energised for Tuesday. We’ll be ready for Tuesday, there’s no two ways about that,” he said.

“All this work we’ve done in pre-season, the fact that I didn’t change training when it was hot last time, it prepared us for this after all. Maybe I’m not mad? Maybe I’m not crazy?

“It was a really good performance and I’m really proud of them.”