ONLY in the fullness of time will we know just how important that half-time interval was for Ian Evatt, Bolton Wanderers , and perhaps even the League One promotion race. At around 1.20pm on Saturday afternoon, somewhere under the West Stand behind the big double doors which lead to the manager’s office and home dressing room, decisions were made that not only affected the course of this game – but potentially the club’s season too.
It felt as if a lot of riding on the outcome of this all-Lancashire clash, both for embattled boss Evatt and his team, which had been so utterly humbled at Stockport County just a fortnight ago. So, trailing to an eminently preventable Kyle Joseph header, having failed to put a shot on target nor really a glove on their injury-hit opposition, it was difficult not to look at the dark grey clouds above the Toughsheet Stadium as something symbolic. The second-half transformation, driven by the returning George Thomason and capped off by Aaron Collins 94th minute winner, only goes to show just how wildly erratic this group of players can be.
It is little wonder that Evatt craves more middle ground consistency, as living on this diet of late goals and catastrophe is no good for anyone’s health . Since that grim day at Edgeley Park there had been a lot of discussion about responses, changing attitudes, wake-up calls and the like, so the turgid start to the game was as surprising as it was disappointing. Wanderers looked anxious, their 3-4-3 shap.