Bolton Wanderers boss reacts to Carlisle United defeat

The Trotters boss admitted his side were off colour despite insisting neither of the Blues’ penalties should have been awarded.

Evatt said his team were “leggy” as they fell victim to a Blues’ comeback.

Jordan Gibson’s hat-trick turned things in United’s favour after Jon Mellish’s own-goal had put Bolton in front.

“It’s a harsh lesson. We take the heat, because it’s justified, then we’ll come back and regroup,” said Evatt.

“We looked devoid of energy, devoid of ideas second half.

“We looked flat and leggy and this week has probably been a game too far with the lack of options we have had to rotate and freshen up.

Bolton's ex-Blues, Kyle Dempsey and Jack Iredale, right, protest the first penalty (Image: Richard Parkes)

“It is disappointing because we have battled all week but today there were too many under par.

“We got ahead and the two penalties are an absolute joke. I don’t even want to discuss them but I don’t think either of them are penalties. I am sure they are not, in fact.

“But that is going to happen and we had other opportunities.”

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Bolton started the day in third but dropped three places after Gibson’s treble made it a memorable day for United.

Evatt was critical of Nathan Baxter’s decision to go up for an injury-time corner from which Gibson broke to score his third.

But he spared his keeper further criticism and instead laid blame for the defeat at his outfield players.

“Dion [Charles] missed a great [chance] at the start of the second half, we huffed, puffed and the second goal goes in with a deflection, then we make a crazy decision at the end with Nathan going up when there’s four minutes left,” added Evatt to the Bolton News.

Nathan Baxter saved Joe Garner's penalty - but was criticised for going up for a late corner which led to Carlisle's third goal (Image: Richard Parkes)

“There was no reason for him to do it. We were hopefully going to get one more wave of attack, one more opportunity to get a result, and we gave it away.

“Having said that, Nathan was outstanding in the game so that won’t happen again. He has made that decision, it was a rash one, but we will learn from that now.

“Nathan, in particular, was one of the only players to walk off with any credit.”

Bolton were missing some senior players to injury and suspension but Evatt said he did not want to use that – or his opinion on ref Seb Stockbridge’s decisions – as an excuse.

“We have to own that performance and be better for it,” said the former Barrow manager.