Boss Seeks More 'Magic Moments'

Ian Evatt clap

Boss Ian Evatt is hoping his side can deliver another away-day special to sign off 2023.

The Whites end the year at Fleetwood Town on Friday night knowing a win could take them within a point of top spot in League One at the half-way stage of their season.

Only goal difference is keeping Wanderers out of the automatic promotion places thanks to back-to-back victories over Christmas.

The second of those came at Lincoln City on Boxing Day thanks to Eoin Toal’s late winner and Evatt would love a repeat of the scenes generated at Sincil Bank as the Whites look to stride on together.

“The best part of Tuesday was seeing the away fans celebrate,” said the Wanderers’ boss. “I think 1,900 Bolton fans, on Boxing Day, travelling almost the width of the country is great to see and we're delighted we could give them that magic moment.

"The supporters backed the lads right to the very last whistle and we managed to get them three points. We want to do the same again on Friday."
Ian Evatt

“I know this being a local one they will be there in their numbers again and we want to go and try and get another three points and hopefully provide another good performance.

“As I said, I think this season is all about staying the course. We're going to have low moments and we're going to have dips and poor results but it's how as a club we unite behind those results and stick together and keep believing.

“We saw a real togetherness at Lincoln. The supporters backed the lads right to the very last whistle and we managed to get them three points. We want to do the same again on Friday.

“For us, it's staying united as a football club and sticking together through thick and thin and hopefully come the end of the season we've got something to shout about.”

Wanderers have sold their full allocation of just over 1,000 tickets for the trip to the Highbury Stadium to face a Fleetwood side sitting in the bottom three but unbeaten in their last two games after draws at leaders Portsmouth and at home to Carlisle United.

Evatt is likely to rotate his squad again to share the workload over the holiday programme which ends with a New Year’s Day visit from Burton Albion.

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Ian Evatt Gethin Jones hug

However, it’s likely that vice-captain Gethin Jones will figure again against his former club before the defender flies out to join the Australia squad preparing for the Asian Cup.

“There's nothing that Gethin wants more than for us to win the game before he goes away,” Evatt added. “We're delighted for him to become an international football player and take part in such a big tournament.

“It’s part of the game and will be an opportunity for someone else to step into some big boots. So far, Will Forrester has been magnificent and we have a good squad of players and some good options in that department.”

Wanderers will be looking to end the year on a high but, win, lose or draw at Fleetwood, and 2023 has been a big 12 months for the Whites, with further League One progress last season culminating in a play-off semi-final place to follow success at Wembley in the Papa Johns Trophy.

“It has, but again we want to do more,” said Evatt, who this week passed 100 wins as Wanderers’ boss and earlier this year signed a new long-term contract at the Club.

“We want to keep pushing. We want to keep progressing and we’ve got lots of work to do to be able to do that.”

Watch the manager’s pre-match interview on Wanderers TV HERE

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