SAM Allardyce believes opposition sides have “sussed” Bolton Wanderers since their play-off final defeat against Oxford United at the end of last season.

Speaking on his podcast - No Tippy Tappy Football – the former Whites boss praised the job Ian Evatt has done over the last few years but felt he had run into choppy waters since Wembley in May.

Last weekend’s nightmarish 4-0 home defeat to Huddersfield Town concluded with a major error from goalkeeper Nathan Baxter, which also provided plenty of fuel for the critics of the manager’s possession-based style.

Referring to the fourth goal, Allardyce felt the lack of an alternative style of play could now be costing his old club.

“This podcast is called No Tippy Tappy Football as everyone knows because it does rile me that everyone is saying there is only one way to play, and that’s the way to play,” he said.

“This is the best example of why you shouldn’t play it, but everyone is continuing to play it, sadly.

“Don’t forget he (Evatt) has done a great job over the last few seasons but all of a sudden since they lost in the play-offs to Oxford that all the other managers have sussed them. He only seems to play one way, and that seems to pay off for a lot of teams and particularly Huddersfield.

“Decisions made by the centre-half and goalkeeper if anyone watches it are obviously the manager’s instructions but messed up so badly. We haven’t seen one messed up like that for a long time.

“That is his choice, as a manager you have to be strong and stick with your beliefs. But, for me, having Plan A and Plan B is crucial whether you are trying to avoid relegation or you are trying to win the Championship. You have to have a way of diversifying your play to either avoid relegation or win promotion.”