RIC AND ROLLERS
Santos stars in beating
IAN EVATT was happy to avoid the headlines and enjoy Match of the Day as Bolton gave him his first FA Cup win as a manager.
Evatt had lost five times in the competition with Bolton and Barrow, but Ricardo Santos, Paris Maghoma, Will Forrester and Dion Charles sank Solihull, who had skipper Jamey Osborne sent off in injury time. Top scorer Charles also had a penalty saved by Tommy Simkin.
“I am delighted the monkey is off my back,” said a relieved Evatt. “I can have a cup of tea now and enjoy Match of the Day for once.
“The message to the players was we didn’t want to be headline news. We didn’t want to feel embarrassed, we wanted to show everyone what we can do.”
Evatt, who last enjoyed success in the competition as a Chesterfield player in 2016, added: “It has been annoying because It’s not as though I have deliberately changed the team and not taken it seriously.
“I am fortunate I have had a lot of success early on as a manager: two promotions, a cup win (Papa John’s Trophy)
AT TOUGHSHEET COMMUNITY
and play-offs. But this has been one box I have not ticked.
“People talk about ‘the league is our bread and butter’ – that’s just nonsense, the players want to play football and want to win.
“We want to win consistently and if that’s in the FA Cup we will take it seriously.
“This game was all about attitude. We spoke how this game would show me where they are as a group, what their mindset is like. They showed me they are in a good place.”
Moors manager Andy Whing, booked by referee Scott Simpson in stoppage time for protesting at Osborne’s dismissal, said: “Bolton are a very good team. I was really impressed with them.
“However, I am gutted. I don’t like losing football matches whether it’s against a Premier League side or against Biggleswade. But I am proud of the players at the same time.
“It’s a game of football you want to win but Bolton are some team, with a fantastic manager and staff. Hopefully they go up this season.”