Home
Ian Evatt admitted that a lack of composure might have cost his Wanderers as they drew 0-0 with Derby County in front of the club’s biggest crowd in more than a decade.
A massive 25,428 packed into the UniBol to see the Whites held to a goalless draw which means they go into their final game of the year against Lincoln City on Friday in fifth place.
Dion Charles missed the game’s outstanding opportunity, with Elias Kachunga volleying a late effort straight at Rams keeper Joe Wildsmith with the final kick of the game.
Evatt was pleased with his side’s defensive display and a 10th clean sheet of the season but felt the result should have been improved.
“It was all-action, really intense and energetic, a lot of physical output. The way Paul’s teams press, they ask you those types of questions,” he said.
“We talked about moments in the week and this type of game is always tight. We just have to learn to get the better of those moments.
“We had the best chance of the game for Dion, who should probably score, then a really good spell after half time. When we showed some composure we played through them well but we didn’t show it enough. Maybe that is credit to the opposition, maybe the size of the crowd and the magnitude of the game, some of these players are only experiencing this for the first time.
“There are young players, and that is an intense atmosphere against a big club. We gave a good account of ourselves but I think we can do better.
“If you can’t win you don’t lose, especially in this type of game where there is a six-point swing if you lose. We’ll just dust ourselves down and go again at Lincoln.”
Evatt brought on five second-half subs in an effort to swing the game in his favour, with Kachunga coming desperately close in stoppage time to claiming all three points.
“The amount of energy we had to expend to win the second balls in midfield, we wanted to keep up that intensity and hard work,” he said.
“We always create a chance late on. Kacha had it – and it probably wasn’t a great chance but it was good technique and a yard either side of the goalkeeper and it goes in, but I will view it as a point gained and then look at Lincoln away.”
The last time that Wanderers broke the 25,000 mark was the penultimate game of the 2011/12 season, where Owen Coyle’s side threw away a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 against West Brom, meaning their relegation fate was out of their hands on the final day of the season.
“If anyone wants to see the potential of this club, or whether we are doing things the right way then just look at the crowd,” Evatt added.
Source