Ian Evatt explains difficulties at Bolton Wanderers after loss to MK Dons

Bolton Wanderers have been non-stop since the turn of the year and have squeezed eight league matches into the month of February.

Five wins, one draw and two losses in that time has been enough to continue their positive momentum but the gap to the play-off places remains steep.

Sheffield Wednesday climbed into sixth place in victory over Charlton Athletic at the weekend, the Owls are seven points better off than tenth placed Bolton and have played two games fewer than the Trotters.

The relentless month has meant that player recovery has taken priority over Ian Evatt having the opportunity to get some of his ideas across at the training ground.

The former Barrow manager explained the difficulties the schedule has presented when he spoke to The Bolton News.

He said: “We haven’t really trained.

“It is impossible to train, and this is the problem.

“We have had eight games in the shortest calendar month of the year and it has been challenging.

“And there is probably no worse a team in playing MK Dons in the eighth of eight games, but we still felt like we could have and should have got probably something out of the game.”

The Dons now sit outside the top two on goal difference with Wigan Athletic on +24 compared to their +22.

The Latics have three games in hand but will certainly be looking over their shoulders with the form Liam Manning’s men have been on.

The Verdict

It has always looked a tall order for Bolton after their alarming drop-off in the final few months of 2021.

The majority of their key players have contracts running beyond the end of the season and therefore should be able to carry on their upward trajectory next term.

The top six looks a bridge too far at this stage but if the Trotters can continue picking up