BOLTON Wanderers boss Ian Evatt felt the Roots Hall pitch was a ‘leveller’ during his side’s 1-0 win at Southend United.

A late goal from Shaun Miller handed Wanderers all three points against the Shrimpers.

And Evatt felt the state of the surface influenced the quality of the game.

“With that pitch the game was always going to be scrappy and it was a massive leveller on the day,” said Evatt.

“You have to find a way to win the game and we’ve done that.

“We could have made it more comfortable for ourselves in the first half with the opportunities we had.

“But Matt (Gilks) has not had a save to make all afternoon and away from home that’s very pleasing.”

And Evatt was also pleased to see Miller on target.

“Any squad of players are only as good as the ones out of the team,” said Evatt.

“The ones in the team are easy to keep happy and on board it’s the rest of them you need to keep on board and switched on.

“I tell them all the time they will be needed and Shaun is in there to score, which is what all good strikers do.

“But we’re coming together as a team now and there’s real togetherness and closeness in the squad.”

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