Ian Evatt is pleased with what he saw from Bolton Wanderers in their two pre-season clashes against Championship opposition.
The Trotters first team have emerged from their schedule in the lead-up to the League One campaign, which starts next week when MK Dons visit the University of Bolton Stadium.
Two of these clashes have involved taking on sides plying their trade in the Championship this forthcoming campaign.
READ MORE: Bolton Wanderers 2-2 Blackburn Rovers: highlights and reaction after pre-season draw
And Wanderers picked up a victory and a draw in these clashes - beating Preston North End 1-0 courtesy of a goal from Gethin Jones in the second half after an impressive performance against Frankie McAvoy's side.
Yesterday, Evatt's side drew against Blackburn Rovers as Wanderers fans returned to the University of Bolton Stadium to watch a match for the first time since February 2020.
Bolton took the lead against the Ewood Park side through defender George Johnston before half-time.
They doubled their advantage after the break when Oladapo Afolayan's good work on the left hand side and shot was put into his own net by Hayden Carter.
But Rovers rallied when Tony Mowbray made a quadruple change and Chile international Ben Brereton found the back of the net twice to ensure the friendly ended all square, as Wanderers fans returned to the University of Bolton Stadium for the first time in more than 500 days.
Mowbray felt that the atmosphere at the ground as Bolton played in front of their fans for the first time since the end of February 2020 helped his players and they will improve as a result as fitness continues to build in the camp.
And he took satisfaction from their performances against PNE and Rovers ahead of the campaign getting under way next weekend.
He said: “I think a few of them are running on empty now. Lloyd Isgrove and George Johnston were cramping up at half-time but they’ve trained one day and been off two weeks more or less.
"People are going to improve from that, but that’s a great point to start from.
"The two Championship teams we’ve played, we deserved to beat Preston, we’ve played really well for an hour at least today and probably should have won the game.
"I’m pleased with where we’re at and we’re only going to improve from here.”
