IAN Evatt believes Wanderers can learn some lessons from their Carabao Cup defeat against Middlesbrough.

After working hard to keep the scores level in the second half, injury time goals from Riley McGree and Morgan Rogers gave the Championship side a 3-1 win, booking a place in round three.

Dion Charles had given Bolton an early advantage, levelled later in the half by Matt Crooks, but Boro wrestled control of the game, dominating possession late on, and leaving the Whites looking jaded.

“I thought first half we were the better team, we had good control for large spells, I thought they scored slightly against the run of play at a time when we were pushing for the second,” said the Bolton boss.

“It was really positive first half but second half what happens when you don’t manage the ball you end up out of possession for large periods and like we do to teams in our own division, you eventually get fatigued. Against the best teams – and they really are a good team – I think you get picked off.

“We showed great resilience, great courage, defended our box really well, so to lose the game in the 90+1 90+4 minutes is disappointing because there are lots of positives to take and lots of lessons to be learned.

“The reason we play how we play is because, hopefully, once we get to the next level we can compete because we can manage the ball and sometimes rest in possession. If you spend large spells out of possession against these top Championship teams, eventually you’ll get picked off.

“We just needed a little more bravery in the build phase, especially from the keeper. But all in all, considering the number of changes we made compared with the number they made I think we gave a good account of ourselves for large periods.”

Evatt, who lost keeper Joel Coleman to an ankle injury at half time, felt the second half display lacked nothing in courage but admitted his side has to strive to be as careful in possession as Boro were in the second period.

“The reason we play the way we play, the way we are coached, and the way I believe we should play is that the higher you go, the more you need the ball. If you don’t, you’ll tire and you can’t spend that long out of possession because eventually you’ll lose concentration,” he added.

“Also, if you do get that moment – and we had one with Dion at 1-1 – a sharp Dion Charles who hadn’t spent 25 minutes out of possession, I believe he would have finished that chance.

“I think they are a really good team and I have watched their games back, they are in a false position in the Championship. Their performances have been excellent and had Michael (Carrick) been in charge from the start of last season they would have been promoted along with Burnley.

“For large spells we gave a really good account of ourselves against a really good team.”