Bolton Wanderers air grievances to referee boss Mike Jones

The Bolton boss managed to bite his lip after the final whistle at Fratton Park, stating only that he had disagreed with some of the calls made by referee Paul Howard.

On further review, he saw enough to air his grievance to the EFL’s head of referees, Mike Jones, and not for the first time this season the club’s analysis department compiled a list of clips for him to review at his leisure.

Though he knew nothing can be changed, Evatt nevertheless felt it important to underline some of his gripes, and one of the key differences between Pompey and Bolton on the night.

“I was disappointed with the referee’s performance on Monday and that isn’t me being sour or looking for excuses,” he told The Bolton News. “I don’t think we have been on the right side of some decisions, and I think the referee was poor the other night.

“I said if after the game and having reviewed it, I think it is poor. George Thomason’s yellow card is ridiculous and if you watch the footage the lad goes down rolling around, then 10 seconds later gets up and starts sprinting, clearly not injured.

“There was a clear foul on Randell Williams before the corner for the first goal, a clear two-handed push in the back. Alex Robertson was extremely fortunate to stay on the pitch after receiving a yellow card for Josh Sheehan, the wiping out Gethin Jones in the box, high on his calf. That could have been a second yellow.

“Decisions didn’t go for us on that night, and I don’t think our team play that game as well as others, so to speak. I think we are a bit nice and naïve, but that’s a different story.”

Statistically speaking, you might have guessed how Monday’s game would go.

Bolton have had more fouls given against them than anyone else in League One – an average of 12.5 per game – while Pompey have the division’s highest number of fouls per game awarded to them – again, 12.5 per game.

Table showing the teams who have committed the most fouls, and received the most fouls in League One (Image: Camerasport)

If ‘winning fouls’ is an art form, then is it an area that Wanderers must wise-up to if they are going to challenge for honours this season?

“I certainly wouldn’t want one of my players rolling around on the floor and then getting up and sprinting off,” shrugged Evatt.

“I don’t really want us to be viewed that way – but I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer, being honest.

“I want us to win more than anything else, so what do you do? I guess it is down to the players.

“It hasn’t helped us. We sent a report in to the head of referees today with some video clips of how we felt we were unjustly and unfairly treated, especially during that first half and we will wait for a response. We always do.”

Josh Dacres-Cogley is fouled by Exeter City's Harry Kite (Image: camerasport)

Of the players who have made 10 league appearances or more this season, Bolton’s Dion Charles averages the most fouls per game (1.6) within his own squad, ranking joint sixth overall in the division. George Thomason – who has amassed eight yellow cards in the league – is ranked joint eighth.

Thomason’s haul of bookings is bettered only by another former Wanderer, Josh Vela, who has picked up nine and is now teetering on a suspension.

Evatt has talked to his young midfielder about some of his decision-making that has led to cautions but also notes that some the yellow cards have been undeserved.

“I could probably give you 20 clips of yellow cards – going back to the Reading away game, for instance, where our players have been booked, we have spoken to the head of referees, and he’s admitted we have been pretty hard done to,” the manager said.

“We had the Dion Charles red earlier this season, which was a mistake, and it all goes against our record.

“Perhaps we don’t buy fouls the way the others do. We just have to try and control what we can.”

Regardless of officials, Evatt also acknowledged there was plenty that can be improved upon in his own players’ performance on the South Coast.

“Credit to them, they stopped us playing,” he added. “They were very good on set plays, which we knew, and we also knew they would press us high and look for those transitional moments to hurt us, which they did.

“We didn’t find the right solutions in the pressure we were put under second half, so we have to learn from that and try to improve.”