IAN Evatt will gladly exchange the welcome headache he now has selecting a side for Ipswich Town than the one he had last weekend after defeat at Carlisle United.

The Wanderers boss was delighted with his side’s response to a bad day at Brunton Park as they grabbed a late draw against Championship Huddersfield Town in a game of high-quality and goalscoring chances at the University of Bolton Stadium.

Danny Ward headed the Terriers into the lead just before half time but Bolton stuck to their gameplan and struck the woodwork through skipper Ricardo Santos.

Despite creating some good opportunities, Bolton did not look like they would have much to show for their efforts until sub Kieran Sadlier supplied a thunderbolt with seconds left on the clock to make the score 1-1.

“I thought it was a really good game,” Evatt said. “First half was a technical and tactical battle and they are renowned for being a good pressing team. They posed us problems out of possession in the first half but it was a really tight game with not a lot in it. That was them full strength and a club that almost made it to the Premier League last season, so a massive test for us.

“I thought second half it was really all us. We took over, stuck to our beliefs, we were brave, we played smarter and quicker through the lines and in the end they had to sacrifice some of their pressing and go back to playing a mid-to-low block and that is credit to us.

“We created so much and hopefully we are saving those for next week. But it shows that bringing these players on now that we have a really strong squad and it is going to be challenging picking a team.

“People provide different qualities and different scenarios require different personnel and I think now we have lots of options. Kieran Sadlier proves my point because he came on to give something different to Conor Bradley, when we are chasing a game, dominating, he helps with his final third qualities and delivery.

“I am pleased with where we are at. There is lots of work to come but fundamentally I think we are in a good place.”

Wanderers now have a week to prepare for Ipswich Town, with Evatt able to select from a good number of players showing pre-season form.

He recognises that keeping the players out of the team may be his toughest challenge but believes each of the squad will get their chance over the course of the season.

“They are all good headaches,” he said. “It will be tough for me to pick teams and I have just said that to the players.

“I have so many good players now that there will be people disappointed. There will be players left out of the squad, let alone anything else, good ones as well.

“It will be challenging but that is what I am paid to do, pick the right teams.

“Provided the frustrations stay within themselves or me, not with each other or spill out on to the training pitch, I have no problem. The nature of football is to pick 11 players to win a game and every opportunity provides a different challenge. They have to show me they are ready to play, simple as that.”

Pre-season ended on a high note with Sadlier’s goal and Evatt was pleased with the way his side has fared over the course of seven first team friendlies.

“I think we have had one blip, really, the Carlisle game – and that can be a positive in that it gave us a wake-up call to show that things are not always going to go according to plan. It is about how you respond and I thought we responded brilliantly,” he said.

“I spoke to the Huddersfield players coming off the pitch and I think they were surprised with the quality we have got.

“Credit to the players but now we have got to do it over a 46-game season.”