WANDERERS got a big reality check with a five-goal defeat at local rivals Wigan Athletic yesterday – but Ian Evatt was not about to panic.

Joe Garner’s hat-trick for the Latics dented pride but gave the Whites head coach plenty to think about as he prepares a team for his final friendly against Crewe on Friday night.

Evatt also left his players with food for thought after voicing his disappointment with the first hour – during which the home side ran in four goals.

Eoin Doyle was rested with a dead leg, and the likes of Alex Baptiste, Reiss Greenidge and Muhammadu Faal are also expected to return from minor injuries for the final dress rehearsal before the competitive action begins.

“I am only thankful that it was a pre-season game,” Evatt told The Bolton News.

“We have raised the standards and the reason I shout at them over the little things in training every day – whether it’s a passing drill or we’re working on shape – is that we train specifically for a match day situation. This situation.

“If they are not producing the goods then they will be left behind, it’s as simple as that.”

Nathan Delfouneso scored early on for the Whites and trialist Charlie Adam also started the game but Wigan’s superiority left Evatt taking notes – and the Whites boss may step up his search for reinforcements in the next couple of days.

“The big positive I take from this is that I learned more about some players in 90 minutes than I have in the last six weeks,” he said.

“I saw in that second half when we were a few goals down who still wanted the ball and who was still prepared to lead the team.

“I think it shows that we still need three or four players in the building. We’re still light.”

Evatt inherited a squad with half a dozen first year professionals and a few who had pushed their way into the first team reckoning in League One last season in extraordinary circumstances.

He feels some of those players may now need time before they are ready for regular football.

“I am not going to lambast the young players we have got,” he said.

“I have said before that some of the them have been pushed forward into first team football too soon.

“They are simply not ready to play a regular 90 minutes, especially at the standard that Bolton Wanderers will be playing in each week.

“They need time to develop, they need time to improve. I am willing to give them that.”