IAN Evatt believes Wanderers passed a serious League Two test with flying colours with victory against Scunthorpe United tonight.

Eoin Doyle and Antoni Sarcevic struck to give the Whites a fourth consecutive win on the spin and move the club to within striking distance of the play-offs.

“We’re really pleased to play like that after two long journeys, two difficult pitches,” he said. “It was an excellent result.

“Scunthorpe were in great form, they were well-organised and made it difficult for us, but I thought we controlled the game.

“I think we’re controlling games with possession a lot better, especially in the first half. I don’t know what it was in the end, I’d imagine something like 70 per cent, but the only slight negative is that when we have opposition like that we need to move the ball quicker with a faster tempo. There has to be more unselfish running to create space for others. There’s lots to work on, which is pleasing.

“For all our dominance is shows you what this league and football can throw at you because the defenders were outstanding but made one mistake with one long ball and but for Alex Baptiste’s excellent defending it could have easily been 1-1 and they would have come out of nowhere.

“We have to be more dominant in our good spells and score more to take the pressure off the back four.

“But overall I am really pleased because that was always going to be a tough game but we came through it with flying colours.”

Wanderers got a foothold in the game after Scunthorpe defender Jacob Bedeau was adjudged to have fouled Nathan Delfouneso with a high boot – leaving referee Anthony Backhouse pointing to the spot.

Doyle’s emphatic penalty was just reward for Bolton’s dominance and Evatt felt the official had made the correct call.

“When you kick someone in the head is has to be a penalty,” he said. “And to be honest, we have been on the rough end of enough decisions to not worry about that too much, it’s part of the game.

“I am sure Neil would have wanted it had it happened at the other end.

“We had a chat on the side and I think we both feel that to give the refs the best possible chance, until they become professional, we’re going to have these inconsistent decisions.”

Once again, Evatt saw one of his substitutes make a difference soon after his arrival with Sarcevic slamming home a sixth goal of the season after great work from Doyle and Isgrove.

“It’s amazing,” he said. “Another sub, five minutes later he scores. We have got a really competitive group at the minute and we’ve recruited well in January.

“I’d like us to be more comfortable in games to give some rest, especially those like Doyle and Ricardo Santos who have played all season, but we have done really well of late. We’re not resting on our laurels. We know what we need to do.”