IAN Evatt has dismissed any suggestions that it is a formality Wanderers will continue their march up the League Two table.

After today’s trip to Southend, the Whites host Scunthorpe and Barrow – sides currently 22nd, 20th and 23rd respectively.

With Bolton having won three of their last four, Evatt’s men have moved up to 11th and are looking to push even closer to the play-off places at Roots Hall this afternoon.

But the manager has urged caution after the recent upturn in form has seen expectations rise sharply.

“The next three games we play teams 20th and below in the table but they can be the hardest ones,” he said.

“They bring their own pressures and difficulties because they are scrapping for their lives.

“From our point of view, winning the last couple of games has given ourselves an opportunity to be where we want to be – but it’s only an opportunity at the moment, we can’t afford to have an off day.

“It’s another chance for three points on Saturday at Southend. We need to take it.

“We’d much rather have pressure at the top end of the table than anything else.

“We have all suffered this season – I have suffered, the fans have certainly suffered, the board and the players have suffered.

“We have all gone through pain but we need to seize these moments.

“We loved that win at Mansfield but it’s gone now and we need to focus again.

“Getting used to winning games is great and we have that competitive squad now but we have to keep our foot down.”

While Evatt is not getting carried away, he was always confident that his reshaped side would finish the season strongly.

After a frantic summer of recruitment saw more than 20 players arrive at the University of Bolton Stadium after relegation from League One, more new faces have joined in January and have proved a real tonic for Wanderers in recent weeks.

With plenty of time left in the season, Evatt admits he can’t wait to see what the next few weeks bring as the business end of the campaign approaches.

“I said from day one that we would improve as the season went on,” the Bolton boss said.

“It doesn’t matter where you are in August or September, it is all about March, April and then May.

“If we are in with a shout come that time then I am hopeful we will progress.

“Normally being in this position going into March you wouldn’t really be in the running but there are 18 games left for us this season, lots and lots of points to play for, a long, long way.

“Nobody wants to grasp this division and if you can put a consistent run together then you can fly up the table.”