Evatt relieved as Trotters hang on after Williams’ red
IAN Evatt watched Bolton climb six places to 13th with a win over Stevenage, but admitted: “We made hard work of it.”
On-loan Swansea defender Declan John marked his first start for the club with a seventh-minute winner – his previous senior goals coming for Rangers in the Scottish Premiership.
But MJ Williams’ 77th-minute dismissal by referee Trevor Kettle for a foul on Tom Pett left Wanderers scrambling to prevent a Stevenage equaliser.
“We got ourselves 1-0 up with a great goal and were controlling the game and causing them problems,” Evatt said.
“In the first half, it looked to me that if we had wanted to, we could have gone through some gears. But we were happy to stay in second gear.
“We cannot have that attitude if we want to get to where we want to be.
“Get it to 2-0 or 3-0, then if you want to showboat, showboat. But do it in the right areas and not at 1-0 where anything can happen as we have seen in the last few weeks.”
Kettle has now sent off five Bolton players in six games and Evatt said: “It looked to me he got the red card out very quickly instead of giving himself time.
“In real time it looked like MJ got the ball and his momentum took him into the player.
“I asked their player when he came off and he said it was a little late, but not much in it.”
Welsh international John fired home from Oladapo Afolayan’s pass after seven minutes.
Wanderers had Marcus Maddison dismissed in midweek against Morecambe but successfully overturned the midfielder’s three-game ban.
Evatt’s team, now unbeaten in three, conceded a late equaliser against the Shrimpers. This time, though, they held out for the win.
Stevenage, who remain 21st, six points clear off the drop zone, enjoyed plenty of late possession but didn’t trouble keeper Matt Gilks whose only notable save came from Jack Aitchison after 10 minutes.
Stevenage manager Alex Revell said: “We definitely deserved a point.
“In the second half, I thought there was only one team that was driving forward.
“Ultimately though the game is about both boxes. When you see a ball drop four yards out and none of our players are around it then that’s disappointing.”