NEW Year, and it is galling to say, it’s the same problems for Wanderers.

Ian Evatt may not have seen much wrong in the performance levels at Mansfield Town but his view won’t be shared by anyone who trapsed through the wind and rain to Field Mill on New Year’s Day; to them, only the result will matter.

Once again the Whites dominated possession but did not muster much to damage the home side once they had got themselves back in the game at 2-1 through Aaron Collins.

Once again every cross flashed across the Bolton box carried menace, never stopped at source, and rarely cleared at first attempt by anyone other than Ricardo Santos.

Once again Wanderers’ own set pieces were haphazard and ineffective, their crossing woeful, their composure lacking at a time when calm heads were needed in the second half.

It is little wonder there is so much frustration, for we have been here before many, many times. And unless there are major changes – either in personnel during the January transfer window, or more drastic action taken in regard to Evatt and his coaching staff, it is difficult to see how they pull themselves out of this damaging cycle.

Wanderers made three changes to the side that beat Lincoln City, with Luke Southwood replacing Nathan Baxter in goal – the latter having broken his nose in the second half of Sunday’s game.

Dion Charles came in for his first start since the defeat against Wigan in mid-December and Gethin Jones replaced Eoin Toal in the back three, the Northern Irishman still feeling his way back from a hamstring injury.

Predicting what Wanderers would do in 2024 was an impossible task but they did come into this game on the back of a decent result, giving some of the 1,700 sell-out away end at least some hope they could put back-to-back wins together in the league for the first time since October.

What they saw in the first 10 minutes was front foot, positive, and largely encouraging. A couple of crosses were flashed across the six yard box, George Thomason and Jay Matete passed up chances to shoot after a clever corner routine, Klaidi Lolos nearly turned in a header at the far post. All present and correct to that point.

Mansfield, as aggressive and front-footed as ever, dragged themselves back into the game with Louis Reed testing Southwood with an awkward free kick and Alfie Kilgour stepping out of defence before drilling a shot just over the bar.

Always strong on set pieces, the Stags had Bolton worried with each cross coming into the box. And after failing to react to a throw 20 minutes in, Santos couldn’t quite clear a cross flung in from the right and Stephen McLoughlin had time and space to pick his spot with a smart finish from 12 yards.

Back came Bolton. Collins was denied by Christy Pym then swiped at the resulting corner with his effort bouncing close to the post.

Mansfield’s straightforward high-tempo style was serving them well, however, and the clever Lee Gregory had already started to poke and probe before getting the second goal.

Santos should have cleared – that much is true – but Bolton were sloppy in allowing Mansfield to hook the ball over the top and leave him one-on-one in the penalty box. The nifty finish from the 36-year-old was the kind of goal Bolton so rarely score.

The one-and-only time Wanderers got it all right was just before half time as Szabi Schon found Thomason and he picked out Collins with a good cross, scooped into the net for his 11th goal of the season.

From there the scene looked set for Bolton to emulate the class of 2021 and turn the game around completely. Unlike the team that night, however, they failed to turn their pressure into shots at goal.

One effort – a shot from Schon which bounced off Charles’s foot close to goal and into Pym’s hands, was a worry for the Stags. Otherwise the sheer number of crosses and corners which drifted aimlessly over their intended targets was borderline criminal.

Wanderers’ players began to lose their composure. Schon got embroiled with sub Aaron Lewis, as did Jordi Osei-Tutu when he got on to the pitch. Both got away with yellow cards from referee Anthony Backhouse, whose decision making to that point had whipped the home fans into a frenzy.

Evatt changed his wing-backs, swapped his attack, but the service didn’t improve. Despite making umpteen passes around the Mansfield penalty box, the net result was a final half hour where home defenders sat back in number and practically dared the men in white to break them down.

Without a physical edge to the team, particularly in attack, this is Bolton’s lot. They will always have to thread the needle and be condemned to more frustrating days like these.

The retort was always that when Wanderers’ possession brand of football worked, it really worked, but those examples are becoming increasingly rare.

Evatt must surely be sick of examining the same issues in his post-match debrief – and though he claims his players have the answers on the training ground, how long before they can show it consistently on the pitch?

Bolton remain in touch, just, with the top six. How long that will be the case only time will tell. They have two games in hand over Barnsley but who can say with hand on heart that they can see this side taking advantage?

Meanwhile, down in Wycombe, Aaron Morley scores a last-minute winner for Wycombe from the penalty spot in his final game on loan. Another little cut in what is becoming the death of a thousand slices.