WANDERERS lost themselves in the chaos at Bloomfield Road, now Ian Evatt had better make sure he doesn’t do the same in what could be the most important few days of his managerial career.

A score-line like this whips up embarrassment and anger among the fans, not to mention the frustration felt at another erratic refereeing performance that makes you wonder just what Bolton have done to anger the officialdom gods.

Outlandish statements were ten-a-penny on social media, and neither the manager nor his players would have to search hard to find someone writing off their chances of automatic promotion, even with 13 games remaining.

Evatt is no fool, and some of that criticism will have hit the mark. Wanderers commanded the game at 1-0 but lost their composure. Even after falling behind, they controlled possession and created chances which seemed practically impossible to miss.

Whereas Bolton’s methodical, structured build-up worked in spells, Blackpool thrived in the commotion in between. And it was the Whites’ inability to cope with those moments of transition that led to the game-defining decision, as referee Josh Smith sent off Ricardo Santos and awarded a penalty for Blackpool’s third.

There was no way back after that, and by the time the fourth goal hit the back of the net, Evatt’s thoughts would have already turned to how he could stop this happening again on Tuesday night at Wigan – a side equally adept at turning bedlam to their advantage, on a pitch that hardly suits a passing game.

You simply cannot blame Bolton supporters for wanting more than this against a Lancashire rival. Not for the first time, their team has been caught cold in a match where local pride was at stake.

But let’s be frank, the reaction to Saturday’s performance would be small-fry in comparison to the one which would accompany a similar one at the DW Stadium.

Some context is necessary amid all the upset. There are still at least 21 other teams - Blackpool included - who would swap their situation for the one that Bolton currently hold in League One. Portsmouth might be sitting pretty as they eased themselves another point clear at the top, but Derby stumbled at Barnsley and their manager Paul Warne faces the wrath of a similarly expectant fanbase for their midweek home game against Charlton.

This was Wanderers’ first defeat in eight, but to ignore some of the issues that have cropped up in recent weeks could be dangerous.

Defensively, this was the first time in several weeks that Evatt was able to name arguably his first-choice back three of Gethin Jones, Santos and Eoin Toal. Indeed, it was only the 13th time the three have started a game in the same line-up all season.

Santos’s appeal aside – and we’ll get to that later – some stability and continuity is desperately needed in that area of the team, if only to aid the continued integration of goalkeeper, Joel Coleman.

Nathan Baxter will find out on Tuesday if his wrist ligaments have healed sufficiently to push himself back towards first team contention. Putting a cast and immobilising the injury appears to have been a calculated risk on the club’s part, and the outcome is going to have a very big part to play in the run-in.

Coleman is clearly working hard to fill the gap – but some rash moments against Blackpool fuelled uncertainty in his defence, one leading directly to the scramble for Santos’s dismissal.

Evatt seems dead-set on sticking with his 5-3-2 formation, and while his rotation policy is not welcomed in all parts of the support, it seems unlikely to change now. One wonders if the fit-again Will Forrester will get his chance with some of the defensive regulars’ form faltering in recent weeks?

The Bolton manager has a few such selection decisions to make, including his big-money January signing Aaron Collins, who many feel has been under-used in his time at the club thus far.

And that is not to mention a disciplinary hearing of his own on Wednesday, when the Football Association will cast their view on the not guilty plea issued after Jeremy Simpson sent him off during the half time interval at Northampton Town.

Life as a manager is seldom stress-free. But this week really could be a defining one for a young manager who has often found the right answers when he has needed them the most.

George Thomason was thrust straight back into midfield after his three-game suspension and, along with Kyle Dempsey, was one of the only players to really match Blackpool in the scrappy stuff.

There was nothing messy about his ninth-minute finish into the bottom corner to open the scoring, the game at that point looking Bolton’s to own.

Did over-confidence creep in? It is certainly a possibility when trying to explain away the loose defending around Blackpool’s equaliser.

Or were Bolton’s players more concerned with arguing about the free kick given against Josh Sheehan for a foul on Jake Beesley?

Either way, James Huband played a simple pass to Karamoko Dembele, who sauntered forward past Sheehan, playing a ball to Beesley, who given space by Jones, looped a shot into the top corner past Coleman.

Dan Grimshaw made a fine save to prevent Jon Dadi Bodvarsson from putting the Whites back ahead, Josh Dacres-Cogley then swiping aimlessly at the rebound from close range. The wing-back turned with head in hands, knowing he should have scored.

The Sex Pistols had just released their seminal album “Nevermind the B*****ks” when last Bolton won a league game at Bloomfield Road in December 1977, and it was more defending of the Pretty Vacant kind that led to the home side’s second.

Hayden Coulson and Husband somehow managed to isolate Bodvarsson as the covering defender on the Blackpool left, crossing near-post for George Byers to bring a good save out of Coleman, and Marvin Ekpiteta to force the ball over the line with three Bolton bodies watching on.

A kick up the backside? Well, Bolton had a huge chance to get themselves level. Carlos Mendes Gomes will never in his life be able to replicate his miss unmarked from three yards out after connecting with Dacres-Cogley’s cross and somehow managing to pass back to Grimshaw.

Referee Smith had already sent out some erratic signs, not least with the earlier free kick award against Sheehan; his mot juste was yet to come.

Early in the second half Wanderers lost their shape again in a Blackpool counter and Sheehan was left chasing sub Andy Lyons on to a Dembele pass in the left channel. For reasons known only to Joel Coleman, the Bolton keeper came hurtling out, Lyons skipping around him and rolling a cross in towards Kyle Joseph. Santos made up ground over a few steps and hooked the ball back in his goalkeeper’s direction.

Ref Smith clearly felt he got more of the man – Joseph – than the ball, pointing to the penalty spot. But if that were not punishment enough, he then presumably thought the Bolton defender had also not made an attempt to play the ball at all, and just hacked the man down, as he also issued a red card.

Even the Blackpool players seemed surprised by his call. And in a season where Bolton have had some very curious things go against them, Peterborough official Smith might now take the prize.

Beesley scored from the spot, the points and game now largely decided even with 20 minutes to go.

Jordan Gabriel did add a fourth – and credit to Blackpool, it was the best goal of the day – with Dembele playing yet another key pass in the build-up.

Lots of Wanderers fans had already taken their leave by that stage, and who could blame them? A poor performance amplified by more controversial refereeing calls. Only this time, it is vital that Bolton focus only on what they can fix.

There simply must be a positive reaction from manager, players and supporters at Wigan Athletic on Tuesday night. No excuses.

Anything less, or heaven forbid another sloppy show in defence and attack like this, and the doubters will get louder still.