Bolton Wanderers boss Ian Evatt reaction to 2-1 defeat at Derby County

Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Conor Hourihane did the damage for the Rams, who were comfortable victors despite Kieran Sadlier’s late effort restoring an element closeness to the scoreline.

Wanderers struggled to manufacture a clear-cut chance on a bitterly cold afternoon at Pride Park, a stadium at which they have never won a game.

“I think we dipped below our standards,” Evatt said after the final whistle. “They executed their gameplan better than we executed ours.

“We knew what was coming, we knew the press was going to be aggressive, we knew they would come after us and that we would have to be smart in tight areas and recognise where the space was.

“But I don’t think we asked their centre-backs enough questions and that isn’t down to the centre-forwards, it is just about putting the ball in the right areas when we are inviting that pressure.

“I don’t think either team created lots. There wasn’t a lot of opportunities in the game.

“But they looked more aggressive than we were, more combative, and won too many first contacts, too many second balls.

“The game was still a tight one and that is where the frustration kicks in because if we had been anything like where we can be then the score would have been completely different.”

Wanderers had lost just one of their previous 13 games and had only conceded once in their previous eight – all positive signs which pointed towards a concerted push for promotion.

Evatt conceded, however, that too many elements of his side’s display at Derby dropped short of the standard required.

“There are lots of reasons why we struggled – we didn’t close the space quick enough when we were forced to play long. The gaps between the back three and the forwards was too big and that meant it was difficult to land on the second ball,” he said.

“Their centre-forward brought it down unopposed so many times and was able to connect the play so many times. When that happens you cause your own problems. All over the pitch we dipped below our usual standards.

“If we are not going be aggressive and press to win the ball back like we should do, then we need to be really smart with the ball. And we were not courageous enough until the score was 2-0, being brave enough to pass through the lines. That isn’t bravery or courage – anyone can play at 2-0 down, it needed to happen from minute one.”

Wanderers remain fifth and have a home game against Forest Green on Tuesday night.

Evatt – who says he is considering changes for the midweek game – left his players in no doubt that they must pick up their performance levels.

“We have told the players and the squad some truths today and that will always be our way,” he said. “Some people might be sat there and thinking ‘we are doing OK and we have been on a good run, give us a break’ but absolutely not. We want the best.

“We want to keep pushing and striving to be the best we can be, and we need to work harder than that.

“It is a frustration for me because the players have got so much more to offer than that.”

The Derby defeat came at the end of a week where the club sold Dapo Afolayan and lost the services of Jon Dadi Bodvarsson for the season because of an ankle injury.

Evatt says reinforcements are being sought as quickly as possible – but with 10 days remaining in the transfer window, he remains confident he can find the right players.

“There is a lot of hard work going on behind the scenes and for those people who think we look light, I completely agree. There is work happening – we need one or two more,” he said.

“We have identified people we want to sign, we will do all we can to make it happen”