Phil Brown reckons Ian Evatt is reaping the rewards of “sticking to his guns” during challenging periods at Wanderers.

The Whites have progressed in each of Evatt’s seasons in charge and currently sit third in League One, only outside of the automatic promotion places on goal difference.

The Bolton boss received criticism for refusing to stray from his expansive brand of football during his early months in the hot seat, and Brown has been impressed by his persistence “in the face of adversity”.

“The modern-day game has moved on so much and it is so admirable how these young (managers) are conducting themselves,” he told The Wanderer Podcast.

“In the face of adversity, sometimes they play football from the back and you are taking one hell of a risk of being criticised.

“If you haven’t got the players to do it, you hear the ‘oohs and aahs’ from the supporters and once that spreads in a stadium, it spills onto the pitch. It puts a bit of fear into the players, it freezes them.

“I don’t think Ian Evatt has ever tried to stop playing, I don’t think he has ever gone route one and tried to hit the strikers. In the face of a lot of criticism, he has stuck to his guns and I think he is doing a great job.”

Wanderers could make it eight successive wins in all competitions when they welcome struggling Exeter to the Toughsheet Community Stadium this weekend.

“He is playing good football, the right kind of football, that I think has got people looking at him,” the 64-year-old continued.

“I think Wanderers’ biggest challenge will be keeping hold of Ian Evatt. If they get promoted this season, no problem because in the not-so-distant past they have been in the Premier League."