Ian Evatt was delighted to make his 250th game as Bolton boss another winning one as his side came from behind to pick up another three points in their promotion push, writes Pete Oliver.
Wanderers hit back from a goal down at half-time to beat Mansfield Town 3-1 with three quick-fire goals after the visitors had been reduced to 10 men.
Evatt’s side has now taken 26 points from their last 12 games to sit outside the top six on goal difference as the manager reached his latest landmark at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.
“We're on a pretty good run. I think that's gone under the radar and un-noticed but we've just got to keep picking up results and if we can start to really hit top gear and play our best football more consistently then we're going to be in there pitching, there's no doubt about that,” said Evatt.
“I have a huge amount of belief in these players. We have to stick together, we have to be positive with each other and the messages are always the same; just park this now and get ready for Saturday.
“Personal milestones are always great. I’m very proud to be manager of this club I've said that all along. I'm extremely proud in fact. Two-hundred-and-fifty games is great. We’ve had highs, we’ve had lows, we’ve had a rollercoaster. But I think we've had more highs than lows.
“We'll just keep fighting, keep punching, keep focused on what we do. We all enjoy and love working for this football club and we are doing the best we absolutely can to get it back where it belongs.”
Wanderers couldn’t beat 10-man Cambridge a week ago as they shipped a late equaliser to throw away two points at the Abbey Stadium.
But after Town goalscorer Hiram Boateng was sent off with 20 minutes to go, Wanderers found their ruthless streak with the help of the introduction of four substitutes at once to romp to victory with goals from Dion Charles, Victor Adeboyejo and John McAtee.
“Of course, the sending off helped us,” Evatt added. “But they are so aggressive that we felt if we could keep in the game and keep working them in the last half an hour we would be able to bring some real energy off the bench, with the two wing-backs, with Dion, with K (Lolos) and it would hurt them because we would have more energy, fresher legs and some quality in the final third and I think that came to fruition, regardless of the sending off.
“I do think that last half an hour, with the players we had coming off the bench, it would have helped us and maybe turned anyway. It was a really important win because they are a difficult side to play against. We knew it was going to be tough but I’m pleased the players managed to get the job done.
“We know we can still be better, but we're still in there pitching and fighting and when we think and feel like our best football is yet to come and I do see that as a positive.”
Watch the manager’s full post-match interview on Wanderers TV HERE