IAN Evatt admits Wanderers could have made it easier on themselves against Barrow – but is happy to be in the hat for Thursday’s last 16 draw in the Papa Johns Trophy.

Elias Kachunga put Bolton into the next round after the League Two Bluebirds had fought back from 2-0 down with goals either side of half time.

Dapo Afolayan and Jon Dadi Bodvarsson helped put the Whites into a commanding position, only for Josh Kay and Niall Canavan to bring Pete Wild’s side back into it.

“I thought they caused us some issues,” he said. “They came and had a go at us. They came with a good gameplan – to sit in a mid-block really and then play fast, forwards in transition.

"First half, I thought we were excellent, actually. I thought it was quite fluid, some of the stuff we did was great. And probably, the game should be over at half time. But we have given them a little bit of hope just before the break.

"Regardless of whether it was a foul or not, it was a disappointing goal to concede. Then second half, I don’t think we were at our fluid best. Sometimes that can happen. Some of those lads haven’t played lots of football of late.

"We have made nine changes from Saturday, but you also have to give credit to the opposition. As I said, I thought they came with a good gameplan and caused us some issues at times. But the most important thing is we are through to the next round and I look forward to that.”

Wanderers had claimed a foul against Afolayan in the build-up to Barrow’s opening goal – and the equaliser also had an air of controversy after referee Rebecca Welch awarded a corner despite Joel Dixon claiming he had stopped the ball from rolling out of play.

“It looked a foul to me,” Evatt said of Barrow’s opener. “I would have to see it back, but for me it was a foul. And I don’t think the ball for the second goal was out either. But we get those decisions, they will probably moan about a handball they could have had as well.

“It is just one of those things. Both sides get rough decisions during the course of the game. The most important thing is we are through to the next round.”

Afolayan scored shortly after he replaced the injured Kyle Dempsey in the first half, building on his winner against Fleetwood on Saturday.

Evatt said last season’s top scorer is being coached to become a more complete striker who can also score more goals from inside the penalty box – and it was with a piece of poacher’s anticipation that he opened the scoring against Barrow.

“We are trying to get him to run in behind a little bit more,” he said. “Dapo is very much a pocket player – wants to receive wide or in pockets, and turn and dribble. But we need a different dynamic to his game - running in behind at times, making those sacrificial runs sometimes not for him to receive the ball but for others to receive in space. He has taken that on board and that is great credit to him – to make that forward run and then get on the end of it. He is a good player.”

Dempsey looks set for a spell out of action, with Evatt confirming he would get a scan later this week.

“He has got what looks like a pretty nasty ankle injury,” the manager said. “He is in a boot at the moment. We won’t know the severity of that until we get him looked at and scanned, and things settle down. But it doesn’t look great at the minute.”

Amadou Bakayoko also came on as a second-half substitute having returned to the training ground on Monday from international duty with Sierra Leone.

“He didn’t train yesterday but wanted to be involved tonight, which is great credit to him. It was good to have him back,” Evatt added.