IAN Evatt claimed midfielder Josh Sheehan was “targeted” by Stoke City in last night’s 1-0 friendly defeat at the Toughsheet Stadium.

The Welsh midfielder found himself on the end of several fouls throughout the game but was booked himself when he retaliated in the second half to a late tackle from Josh Laurent.

Referee Tom Kirk did give yellow cards to Laurent and Eric Bocat in the final third of the game but Evatt felt the official could have stamped out the issues earlier.

Nevertheless, the Bolton boss also felt this players had lacked a little aggression in the first 45 minutes of their penultimate pre-season match.

“That is my frustration with pre-season games is that it is almost a different rule book. There was clear targeting of Josh tonight and we got no protection,” he said.

“And because the referee is slow to bring out cards for challenges which would ordinarily be yellow in the season, you almost get a free hit on people.

“That is frustrating but I think as a team we have to compete more in the first half, be more aggressive, and stand up to it better. You almost have to give them a taste of their own medicine.

“I think we did that in the second half and against Fiorentina it was a lot more competitive and aggressive, so we have to find a level of consistency where that level stays the same. We can’t have one end of the spectrum first half and the other end the second half.

“One thing I can guarantee this season is that we are not going to play well every game, so just having that competitive edge can get you results and we are going to need to do that this season at times.”

Scott Arfield was one of Bolton’s success stories on the night, the experienced midfielder proving influential playing alongside Klaidi Lolos just behind front man Dan Nlundulu.

And Evatt feels the 35-year-old, signed from MLS side Charlotte, will have a major role to play this season in League One.

“He’s experienced, he understands the game and knows what is required,” he said.

“For our group that is key, having that almost mentor, someone to ask questions and pick their brains. We had that with Cameron (Jerome) and Jon (Dadi Bodvarsson) last season and they have now exited and we needed to bring that type in.

“Scott can certainly still help us on the pitch but also off it as well.”

Wanderers improved dramatically in the second half against Stoke but could not find an equalising goal, and Evatt admitted he wants to see a more consistent performance in Saturday’s final warm-up game at Port Vale.

“All of this work is purely in preparation for that first game and for the league season but we have really tested and challenged ourselves,” he said. “We have played some high calibre opponents and I don’t think we have looked far away from that level. We have to take some positives from that.

“We are disappointed to lose 1-0 and that probably shows how far we have come and that we feel we can challenge these teams.

“With every game there are positives and negatives, and the first and second half it was clear which way that was.”