Why Bolton Wanderers took Aaron Morley off at half-time of MK Dons loss explained

Ian Evatt took Aaron Morley off at half-time of Bolton Wanderers' loss to MK Dons due to the midfielder being on a booking and needing more attacking players on the pitch.

Mo Eisa put the hosts ahead in a first half where for most of it, Wanderers were second best in the encounter.

Amadou Bakayoko struck the bar with a powerful header from Declan John's corner before the break, before skipper Ricardo Santos headed over from another delivery in the second half as Bolton improved and sought to equalise.

READ MORE: Bolton Wanderers player ratings vs MK Dons - Kyle Dempsey and Ricardo Santos good in loss

But the hosts got their second goal when James Trafford's pass out from the back was pounced upon by Kaine Kesler Hayden and Scott Twine's deflected effort went in, as Wanderers now sit seven points from the play-off places.

Evatt took Morley off at the break and put Dapo Afolayan on in his place as Wanderers improved after the break.

The January transfer window signing was booked in the first half and Evatt did not want to risk the prospect of losing Morley to a second yellow card as one of the big factors behind making the chance.

Evatt feels that Wanderers ought to have scored with Bakayoko's chance before the break, but accepted that goalkeeper Jamie Cumming made a good stop as he felt Wanderers were the architects of their own downfall.

He also believes that the match officials' performance was 'not up to scratch' as the Bolton boss alleged that match referee Sebastian Stockbridge made comments during the game which the Wanderers camp deem as 'not acceptable' in terms of their nature as Evatt suggested the complaints could be reported and taken further to the appropriate channels.

Evatt said: “Aaron was on a yellow