Ian Evatt felt Wanderers’ 1-0 friendly defeat against Championship side Stoke City was a tale of two halves.

Million Manhoef got the decisive goal during the first half with a clinical finish to lift the ball over Luke Southwood, who made his first appearance in a Bolton shirt.

The Whites had more joy after the break but couldn’t find an equaliser, with Klaidi Lolos going closest.

“I think there were certainly some positives second half,” said Evatt after the final whistle. “First half, we were below our level in terms of competitive edge more than anything else.

“They competed more, they came ready to play and looked like a traditional Stoke team at times – physical, aggressive, athletic – and we didn’t really stand up to that well enough.

“Second half, there was a lot more energy, intensity and it was a lot better. You obviously learn with every game and we have learnt again tonight.

“We have been light in numbers and there are players who started the game who haven’t started a game for a long time.

“At that level, sometimes that can catch you out so they will get better with minutes on the pitch. All in all, it is another step towards our goal.”

Wanderers now have one more friendly against Port Vale before attention turns to the League One opener against Leyton Orient.

“All of this work is purely in preparation for the first game and for the league season,” the manager continued.

“We have tested and challenged ourselves in pre-season, we have played some high calibre opponents and I don’t think we have looked far away from that level.

“We have to take positives from that, we are disappointed to lose 1-0 tonight. That probably shows how far we have come and our mindset that we can challenge these teams.

“With every game there are positives and negatives and I think today, first and second half, it was clear which way they were.”

Evatt also issued an update on the transfer front as the Whites aim to bolster their ranks before the new season gets under way.

The Bolton chief says it has been a tough window across the board but is optimistic things are now moving in the right direction.

“It is slow progress,” he explained. “We are hopeful by the end of the week we will have at least one.

“That depends on one or two things but one looks like it has really taken a step forward in the last couple of days.

“Everything else is painfully slow but talking to Steven (Schumacher) before the game, they are finding the same thing.

“It is kind of a domino effect, once the Premier League start moving, the Championship starts moving and then we can start moving.

“The issue for us is just what pools we are shopping in really. A lot of the ponds we are trying to fish in are the same as Championship teams so we have to be a little bit more patient.

“We know we are light and come the start of the season, I think we will be stronger. Come the end of the window, we are hopeful we will have all the business we need done.”