'Deal with things better' - Bolton Wanderers defender offers encouragement for big League One games

Bolton Wanderers defender George Johnston feels the Whites know how to deal with taking on the bigger sides in League One on the road better now and was illustrated with their point against Ipswich Town.

Wanderers travelled to Portman Road to take on the Tractor Boys in the opening day of the campaign over the weekend. It marked the start of the new season.

They took the lead after 25 minutes when Leif Davis bundled over Conor Bradley in the box for a penalty. Aaron Morley stepped up to coolly slot home from the spot.

READ MORE: 'Real big test' - Verdict on Liverpool defender Conor Bradley's Bolton Wanderers debut vs Ipswich

But the Tractor Boys equalised before half-time when Conor Chaplin's corner was met by Lee Evans to tuck home an effort which Wanderers ought to have defended better. The hosts were on top after the break but Wanderers rode out periods of pressure to secure a good point on the road against one of the division's top sides.

Getting points on the road for Wanderers against the sides expected to be around the top end of the division proved to be an issue in the previous campaign, with Wanderers claiming only one point versus the teams which finished in the top six last season. But Johnston believes the Whites are now better prepared to deal with tough away days and feels it is as much of a mental challenge as a physical one.

He said: "I feel we know how to deal with these things better now. The first goal is massive – it silences the crowd and puts us on the front foot. From when we got the first goal until when they scored, we were kind of controlling the game.

"Obviously, it is disappointing to concede from a set-piece and from then until half-time it kind of wobbled us. But we regrouped inside,