ANTONI Sarcevic’s recent performances have been the perfect riposte to his critics, says Ian Evatt.

The Wanderers skipper came in for stick from some quarters at the start of the season but has returned from injury to score important goals in each of his last two games.

The former Plymouth Argyle man earned a deserved point for Bolton at Cambridge with an 82nd minute equaliser and – in Evatt’s view – personifies the changing face of the team.

“He’s the captain of this team for a reason and I don’t choose captains of this team lightly,” he told The Bolton News.

“He’s one who has the bit between his teeth and the criticism hurt him. He took it personally and so he should, he wanted to prove people wrong, we all do. And we will do.

“I have no doubt in my mind that come the end of this season this club will be a very different place.

“We just need some patience, I understand the supporters’ pain. They can see today and can’t get the feel for it like you guys do. The pleasing thing is that you guys recognise today was a good performance. We all have a duty – I do as the manager of this football club, you guys do to be positive when it deserves it, and today I think deserves it.

“They will listen to you, hopefully, today. And they will understand that today was an excellent performance.

“I know we haven’t got the points on the board that we want but if we can build on that Tuesday, it will be better. Without the 95th minute Oldham goal on the counter-attack we’d be four games unbeaten now.

“These draws have to be turned into wins but I think we could have won this game 1-0.”

Wanderers host Bradford City on Tuesday night looking for their first home win of the season.

Some of the most disappointing performances of the campaign so far have been reserved for the UniBol, a cycle Evatt is keen to break.

“We’re all here to be shot at because we play for a wonderful football club with a massive fanbase,” he said. “But I think I spoke some truths about where we are on Thursday as a club. We’re not overspending any more, we’re not flashing cash here, there and everywhere, we’re making ourselves sustainable. We’re making ourselves into a club that we can be proud of and that will take time.

“Sharon (Brittan) is doing a wonderful job but the players we are signing during that time have to be coached and taught.

“When you are not getting results for Bolton Wanderers in League Two you are going to come under criticism but it’s about how you respond. But all it does is fuel my fire and here they have shown a bit of a response to that.

“Now we have a home game coming up on Tuesday and we have to sort our home form out, no two ways about it, but if we play like that today we’ll win more than we lose.”