THE feeling of being under heavy fire is nothing new for Wanderers in a season where every negative result has resonated that little bit more.

Critics were beginning round again on Ian Evatt’s men after successive defeats and, such is the expectation placed on this squad’s shoulders, all involved should realise they will never entirely disappear.

This is, let it not be forgotten, only the second time this club has ever played at this level of football, and it should not be allowed to dwell here for too long.

On the upside, however, Tuesday night’s win against Cheltenham showed exactly the sort of defensive resolve that had been missing in previous outings against Port Vale and, to a lesser extent, Walsall.

There was something vaguely symbolic about the way Wanderers closed ranks to defend their penalty box against the constant onslaught of crosses and long throws. You can only hope that the allegory continues through the campaign and, just as Ryan Delaney did against the Robins, success is secured at the bitter end.

The metaphor was not lost on manager, Evatt, bursting with pride on a chilly night in Gloucestershire.

“Criticism in football hurts,” he told The Bolton News. “The lads have been criticised at times this season and probably deservedly so, but it’s how you respond and react.

“You’ve got to start proving people wrong, eventually. And I am so happy that they have done that in such a difficult place.

“To stand up against what is thrown at you here is excellent. To keep a clean sheet, I’m really, really pleased.”

Evatt had stirred the pot in the build-up to the game by highlighting Cheltenham’s reliance on centre-half Ben Tozer’s long throws, describing them as “Rory Delap-esque”.

Up until the night itself, there was conjecture over whether the Bolton boss had deliberately made the comment to whip-up some feeling within the stadium and its 2,000 fans, potentially generating a reaction from his own players.

Whatever the motive, it worked. And Evatt’s summary of the Robins could hardly have been described as completely inaccurate on the night.

“Maybe sometimes supporters don’t want to admit to that and how can they see it any differently? It is what it is,” he said.

“They play to win and they’re second in the division for a reason, they’ve got a lot of points and a lot of joy from it so if they’ve got a weapon like that why not use it. But we stood up to it and that’s the main thing.”

Wanderers were aided in their efforts to repel Cheltenham’s touchline missiles by keeper Matt Gilks, who as well as making a fine second-half save from George Lloyd, also helped his over-worked centre-backs out with some excellent claims late on.

“That’s what I expect your goalkeeper to do,” Evatt said. “It’s experience. He knew what was coming and sometimes as a defender, that sends such a great message to everybody when your keeper’s on the front foot and he’s coming for things like that, it really takes the pressure off.

“He did that great at times. I’d have liked him to probably hang on to it rather than throwing it to Eoin Doyle who was out on his feet, but that’s just willingness to win a game and how ironic that we win the game through a set piece?”

Next up, Keith Hill’s Tranmere Rovers, who were treated to an extended rest by virtue of the postponement of their midweek game against Stevenage.

The Birkenhead men, beaten 5-0 by Exeter City in their last outing, will arrived at the UniBol fresher – but Bolton’s owners also pulled out the stops to ensure their players can recover in the best possible way.

“We are the walking wounded at the moment and we’ll have to recover and rest,” Evatt said after the final whistle. “Tranmere have had the benefit of a rest tonight but that can work both ways.

“We’ll give the lads some time now to recover.

“We’re staying over tonight which is great that the club have enabled us to do that and we’ll recover in the morning in the gym in the hotel and in the swimming pool and we’ll do everything we can that’s right, give them the right nutrition and the right food, that’s the reason we’re doing it, to make sure that we recover properly in time for Saturday.”