IAN Evatt wasn’t about to get too disappointed by his side’s first defeat of pre-season.

Though Charlie Wyke’s penalty was enough for newly promoted Wigan Athletic to claim the result, the Bolton boss felt pleased that some of his technical work on the training ground is now translating to the pitch.

Elias Kachunga missed a penalty just a couple of minutes before Wigan’s opener – and Wanderers had chances to have at least levelled a game played mostly in their opponents’ half.

Evatt was content that the performance had probably warranted more than it got.

“I think the right words are ‘moral victory’ but we are not really in the business of moral victories this year. There were lots of positives to take out of the game,” he said.

“We shaded it first half and had the better chances, definitely. Of course we missed a penalty and they scored one but in the second half I think we came out and dominated.

“Obviously we are disappointed not to win it but we can take quite a lot of positives from it, especially as there are no points dished out for it.

“For now, we’re coming along nicely.”

Whereas Wigan, just 90 minutes into their own pre-season and without the influential James McClean, changed their whole outfield team at half time, Evatt played his starting 11 for 60 minutes before making substitutions.

Allowing for the multiple changes he felt the performance had been encouraging from start to finish.

“Even first half I think they (Wigan) made very little,” he said. “They are always difficult to play against, lots of direct play, lots of territory, lots of runners, and you have to stand up to it. I think we did that very well with both teams, to be honest.

“It says a lot that the last 20 minutes of the game was played in the last third of their half with 11 men behind the ball. We tried to break it down and create and had one or two good opportunities but didn’t quite manage to take them today.”

Wanderers won 100 per cent of the games in which they scored the first goal last season but their record after losing the first goal has left a lot to be desired.

That proved the case on Saturday afternoon after Wyke gave the Latics a lead to protect, and Evatt hopes his players can use the experience in League One this year.

“Against teams – and whether their intention is to do this or not – sacrifice possession and play counter-attacking football or territory football, the first goal is really important,” he said. “We learned that a lot last season.

“So missing a penalty and then conceding one straight afterwards is tough. And then when you are 1-0 against a side keeping a lot of men behind the ball, it is difficult and again it is a lesson we will have to take into the new season.

“I am disappointed, of course, but I do think there is a lot to be happy about at the moment and the way we are playing the game.”