Bolton Wanderers v Bristol Rovers - The Big Match Preview

Whichever metric you choose to pick, Ian Evatt’s side were below par at Fratton Park.

Pass completion was a shade over 70 per cent, well down on the season’s average of 79.5, shots on goal dropped from 13 to 10, even the number of attempted challenges made failed to hit regular numbers despite chasing Pompey around the pitch for most of the second half.

The reaction from Bolton’s fans has been measured – perhaps even more so than manager Ian Evatt, who branded the performance “mediocre” compared to those his side had managed recently.

A first defeat since early October should not, in isolation, be a reason for panic. Wanderers were out-fought, rather than out-played at Portsmouth. Dion Charles’s glaring miss dislodged a game-plan that was starting to work midway through the first half, feeding a vociferous home support.

That the Whites were unable to move past the missed chance is something they will have to analyse in-house. There will be bigger arenas and louder fanbases to contend with down the line, if they get to where they want to go.

In the meantime, however, they must tend to matters closer to home. The visit of 13th placed Bristol Rovers, a team still settling under new manager Matt Taylor, may seem on paper to be favourable opposition.

Wanderers have to work hard to get fans onside straight away in Saturday's game against Bristol Rovers (Image: camerasport)

The Pirates have drifted quietly in mid-table for most of the campaign, electing to part ways with Joey Barton after a 2-1 defeat at Derby County in November. Whether the footballing fraternity thank them for giving the former Manchester City and Newcastle United man more time to compose his thoughts is a different debate.

They have won three games away from home this season at Charlton, Shrewsbury and Carlisle United but barring a 4-1 hiding at Burton Albion – a day on which they played for 45 minutes with 10 men after Ryan Woods’ red card – they have never been outclassed.

Crucially, Bristol Rovers have not won a game this season in which their opponents have scored first, and that might be a statistic that catches Ian Evatt’s attention as he attempts to pick his side back up after their televised disappointment on the South Coast.

The mood around the Toughsheet Stadium has been hugely supportive but with the Pompey defeat still fresh, the way Wanderers start Saturday’s game is going to be vitally important. Tempo and positivity on the ball will be key as they seek to avoid any slide into a negative atmosphere.

A repeat of the lateral, cumbersome work they showed possession at Pompey, and there is no question that the locals will make their feelings known. 

George Thomason fronted up to the press at Fratton Park and recognised immediately that the team’s sloppiness in possession had fuelled the home support, working against the Whites.

“The way we started the game, we were sloppy with the ball and too loose at times,” he said. “The crowd got behind them and probably jumped on top of us.

“At times and spells in the first half I think we played quite well against the high press and created one or two good chances but if we were honest, we missed the big one, and goals change games.

“Second half we just didn’t do enough to get back into the game and we were stuck between two minds. We didn’t show the best version of ourselves on one of the biggest nights of the season so far.”

George Thomason admits Wanderers 'did not do enough' at Portsmouth on Monday night (Image: camerasport)

Wanderers rarely lose back-to-back games these days. Over the past 12 months Evatt’s side has slowly and steadily ticked boxes, addressing every shortfall which has been suggested. That they fell back into old habits undoubtably added to the manager’s post-match frustration a few days ago.

Confidence can disappear quickly, and that is why Bolton must seize the opportunity presented to them on Saturday on home turf – a ground at which they have scored 42 goals in all competitions this season.

Thomason, who will be out to improve on his own showing at Portsmouth, summed up the feeling in the dressing room.

“Every time we have been asked questions as a team, and as individuals, we have issued a positive response,” he said. “It hurts now, it was a big opportunity for us to leapfrog them and go to the top of the table. But we can’t dwell on it and have to focus on putting another streak together now.

"We have to make sure that we get back to the standard we have set, then the results will follow."