WANDERERS’ faltering front line has been warned to sharpen up – or find their place in the side at risk.

Ian Evatt was left fuming by wastefulness in front of goal, magnified by Joel Dixon’s late error in Tuesday night’s Papa John’s Trophy exit at Hartlepool United.

And the Bolton boss believes too much pressure is now being placed on the team because of their inability to seize the lead.

Wanderers have now conceded first in 18 of their 23 league outings and have managed to score the first goal just once in 13 games away from home.

By comparison, Evatt’s side has won all four games in which they have opened the scoring.

The narrative at the Victoria Ground was depressingly familiar, but with the January window open and cash to sign new players apparently available, Evatt says the pressure is on front men like Doyle, Dapo Afolayan and Elias Kachunga to deliver the goods.

“When you create chances you have to take them,” he said after the Hartlepool game.

“The first goal in this type of game becomes all-important. All too often now we are not scoring that first goal.

“When we have had good results and performances this season we have scored first in the majority of those games. When we concede that first goal it goes the other way.

“Other than the first 10 minutes I can’t remember any pressure or possession they had, any type of control. It was all us but we didn’t take the chances and paid for it in the end.”

“Those players at the top end of the pitch have to stand up and be counted. There is going to be real competition but - at the moment - there are only three of them that can play in those positions.

“They have to start scoring, start assisting and help the team.”

Wanderers have come in for criticism after the Hartlepool defeat and in recent outings for lacking the tempo in possession or hoarding the ball in areas that do not hurt opposing sides.

Again, Dixon’s error on the ball which led to the winning goal on Tuesday has inflamed the argument once more.

Wanderers altered their style slightly at Rotherham, playing a more direct game. And though Evatt says there are times when that approach will be appropriate, he believes his team is better suited to playing it out from the back.

“When the chance presents itself you can play direct – but the problem is that the players we have got, we can’t play direct football. We are not built for it,” he said.

“We have to find a way to break teams down and pick our way through.

“First half we did it numerous times but didn’t make the right decision on the cross, pass, shot, whatever. It wasn’t good enough.

“We have to improve at what we do.”