KNICKED IT!
Evatt hails Trotters’ fairytale return
BOLTON boss Ian Evatt hailed his side’s promotion back to League One — and the fact they’re finally wearing some underwear again.
Goals from Antoni Sarcevic, Dapo Afolayan, Eoin Doyle and Lloyd Isgrove gave them a resounding win at Crawley.
One where they claimed third spot and promotion back to the third tier at the first time of asking.
It is a remarkable achievement from all involved given Bolton were 19th as recently as February and the state Evatt (above) found the club in at the start of the season after years of turmoil.
He said: “This club was a big, big ship to try to turn round and, at times, it has been really difficult and challenging, especially early on. But I have been backed by some really, really good people who have Bolton’s best interests at heart.
“We’ve done so much, absolutely everything.
“It was just a shell of a club, we were all fur coat and no knickers.
“We had all the facilities in the world but we had no culture, no environment, no mentality and we had to change all that, and I’m so, so proud of the players that they have done that.”
Captain Sarcevic and Afolayan made them comfortable in the first half, with Reds skipper George Francomb sent off for two bookings.
And Doyle and Isgrove put promotion beyond doubt before Davide Rodari’s late Crawley consolation.
Evatt added: “We all felt it last week when we lost to Exeter, we were hurt, deeply hurt. But from Monday at 9am I knew this performance was coming. Their attitude and application and determination to get the job done was incredible and they deserve all the credit they will get.
“From the first whistle we were on the front foot, we were aggressive with our passing, with our running, and we deserved to win comfortably.
“As I’ve said before, there are only people in the club circle – the players, my family – who really know how hard at times it has been this season and what a big, big job it has been.
“But we have managed to do it and we have not let anybody down.
“We’re building trust, we’re building a connection with the fans again and this is just a start for us. We’re going to enjoy it.”
Crawley boss John Yems said: “They’re a good side and they deserve to go up.”
MAN OF THE MATCH: George Thomason. Tight call ahead of Sarcevic but he was excellent driving his team on.