Bolton Wanderers' Ian Evatt on win at Carlisle United

The League One high-fliers made short work of the struggling Blues with their 4-1 win at Brunton Park.

Bolton went second in the table as Paul Simpson's United remained second bottom.

And Evatt was pleased to come through what he said was a hostile environment.

“I was delighted with that performance," he said.

"It is a very tough place to play and I have just been shouted at and abused for 90 minutes, but it is part of the game and you have to accept it.”

• Paul Simpson on 'huge gulf' between Blues and Bolton

Bolton dominated the first half with goals from Zac Ashworth and Paris Maghoma putting them in control.

Jordan Gibson pulled one back for Carlisle before Kyle Dempsey and Nathanael Ogbeta increased Bolton's margin.

“That was more like us wasn’t it?" added Evatt, speaking to The Bolton News.

"First half was incredible - we dominated the game and were really brave.

Bolton celebrate their fourth goal as United players stand dejected (Image: Ben Holmes)

“It was frustrating because you feel you are so on top and you are just waiting for the goals to start going in – and Zac’s cross was amazing to get things off and running.

"The second one was crucial.

“I said to the players after the game that at the start of the second half we went back to that Cheltenham and Leyton Orient mould where it was a bit safe, trying to protect something, and that isn’t us. It isn’t who we are. Their goal seemed to kickstart us back to life.

• Jon Colman's big match verdict on Carlisle 1-4 Bolton

“After that we were ruthless in the last 10 minutes when the spaces appeared."

Evatt also described Carlisle's goal as "ridiculous", claiming the Blues took a throw-in "20 yards ahead of where the ball went out".

Despite Bolton's large victory margin, he also bemoaned the decision to disallow a Jon Dadi Bodvarsson goal for offside: "There was a guy clearly three or four yards deeper in the penalty box," he said.

Evatt felt that, in the second half spell when Carlisle briefly threatened to come back into things, "we played to Carlisle’s defenders’ strengths by looping balls up in these conditions."

But a double striker substitution helped Bolton get back on top.

“The way we played and moved the ball, some of the bravery in possession and build up was first class. We looked back to ourselves, which the last couple of games we haven’t done, and we just need to keep that going," he added.