Wanderers searching for more consistency from front men in key December run

IAN Evatt hopes his set of strikers can continue to produce goals in a key December run.

Front men Victor Adeboyejo, Dion Charles, John McAtee and Aaron Collins have all found the net over the course of the last two games for the Whites.

Wanderers go to Bristol Rovers on Saturday looking to nudge ahead of Reading and Stockport and break back into the top six for the first time since October.

And Evatt is looking towards his front men to provide some inspiration, with big games also on the horizon against Wigan Athletic and leaders Wycombe.

“The four are capable of more consistency, no doubt about it,” he said.

“I was delighted for Victor because obviously he missed a huge chance, and he is disappointed with that, and everyone let him know they were disappointed with that. But I thought the way he reacted was outstanding, he got the goal I felt his performance deserved.

“I have watched the game back and he was such a good focal point for us, he was able to connect attacks, he embraced the ball in man-to-man contact, and when teams are in that sort of aggressive press you have to play forward quicker but you also have to play to someone who is physically imposing to get hold of it, and I think he has done that.

“But there is definitely more goals in every one of our strikers, we have got a lot of faith in them.”

The Wigan game is already being discussed in hushed tones, even though Bolton must first negotiate a tricky game in Bristol and a Vertu Trophy second round tie against Huddersfield Town on Tuesday night before it comes around.

Evatt has been on the wrong end of some damaging results against the Whites’ near neighbours but he wants focus to remain on the next 90 minutes.

“There is no-one more wiling to put a few wrongs right with that game than me,” he said.

“I understand the importance of that game for everyone and for everything.

“But that is next week, it’s not now. For now we need to get three points to put us in and around where we want to be. And every win from here to the end of the season counts for the same number of points. We win next weekend, it will count for the same number of points as if we beat Bristol Rovers, same as Mansfield, same as Blackpool.

“We have to give every game the same importance in a big month and we are certainly ready to give this one everything before what we know is a huge game next weekend.”

Wanderers have spent only two brief spells inside the top six this season and dropped as low as 21st in September – but Evatt remains adamant that league position is not something to be worried about at this stage of the campaign.

He added: “We certainly shouldn’t judge the league table after 17 games, you should be judged on 46, but for now it’s focus, heads down, understanding there is pressure to perform at this club and in the circumstances, but I think it can be a positive because we have proved in that run that we can handle it.”