Delighted Evatt dishes out praise to Trotters
IAN Evatt urged his players for “seven weeks of unbelievable sacrifice” after Bolton moved to within one point of an automatic promotion place after a comeback win over 10-man Walsall.
Kieran Lee’s first Wanderers’ goal and Eoin Doyle’s 79th-minute penalty took their team’s tally to 32 points from a possible 36 after teenager Sam Perry shot the Saddlers into a surprise lead with his first senior goal.
“It is a remarkable run, and the players deserve immense credit because it is rare you see runs of this type lower down the pyramid,” said Evatt.
“You will get it from your big boys who spend hundreds of millions; they can go 10, 15 or 20 games unbeaten and win a lot of them.
“So, to do that in the lower echelons they deserve immense credit.
“Now, they need to give this club seven weeks of unbelievable sacrifice and hard work and hopefully at the end there is something to cheer about.”
Teenager Perry’s first senior goal – a crisp left foot 20-yard shot – gave Brian Dutton’s side a 28th minute advantage.
Bolton were more threatening in the second half, with Declan John denied by keeper Liam Roberts and Ricardo Santos heading over.
Walsall, now without a win in 10 games, stayed in front until two key moments in six, second half minutes.
Ex-Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Lee levelled after 67 minutes, heading in his first goal since netting for the Owls against Bolton in October 2017.
Former Trotters defender Hayden White was then sent-off by referee Sebastian Stockbridge for violent conduct against Oladapo Afolayan.
Walsall’s afternoon went from bad to worse as Lee was brought down by Mathew Sadler and from the spot Doyle moved Bolton to within one point of an automatic promotion place.
Walsall boss Dutton admitted: “We shot ourselves in the foot. We were in control of the first half and the game plan is working.
“Bolton get an equaliser through good play and then we capitulate.
“That’s through ill-discipline and naivety. Hayden has been fantastic since I have been at the club but he has let himself down.”