BOLTON Wanderers fans called unequivocally for manager Ian Evatt to be sacked after watching their side dismantled at Rotherham United.

Those who travelled in hope of seeing their side win a game in Millers territory for the first time since 1966 voiced their anger throughout as defensive mistakes, wasteful possession and missed chances added up to another demoralising defeat.

Mallik Wilks scored from the penalty spot and Reece James added a second for Steve Evans’s side before half time, and as the away end went through their acerbic repertoire in the second half, Sam Nombe added a third before John McAtee snatched a barely deserved consolation.

Wanderers made just one change from the side that beat Exeter City last time out, with Joel Randall coming straight in from his debut following a £1.2million move from Peterborough United.

His inclusion, along with that of Victor Adeboyejo on the bench, meant the Bolton team had upwards of £5million in transfer fees running through it, surely a record for this club at this level of football.

For 25 minutes, there was little to separate the two sides. Nathan Baxter had pulled off a decent save from Sam Nombe as early as the first minute but Bolton could also have gone ahead early on when George Johnston stabbed at a low shot from Randall and put the ball just wide.

Wanderers continued to try and play through their new signing but as the half wore on, the Millers’ muscular front two of Nombe and Wilks gradually got on top.

The supply of crosses from Joe Powell on the left was also continuous, Bolton defending well enough under the bright winter sunshine peaking over the Mears Stand, but there was always a sense that their good fortune would be finite.

Forrester had a brief chance to change the narrative, flicking a shot from close range straight at Dillon Phillips from Aaron Morley’s cross. Within a couple of minutes the Whites were behind, Forrester’s rash challenge putting his side under pressure on the edge of the box, and Wilks barging through to bring a clumsy challenge out of Santos to win a penalty.

Referee Alan Young had a long chat to his linesman about whether to issue a red card but showed leniency. Wilks did no such thing from 12 yards, rolling his shot calmly into the bottom corner past Baxter.

Morley cleared the bar with an effort from the edge of the box and we then got a change of referee, which contributed to seven minutes of first half stoppage time. Randall had another shot blocked after some good work from Szabi Schon but the home side pushed hard to the very end of the half and when Bolton failed to clear another Powell cross from the left, Thomason’s attempt to send the ball clear bounced off Cameron Humphreys and landed perfectly for Reece James to curl a shot into the bottom corner.

With no changes at the break, the football was equally fragmented after the break for Wanderers. Fans – who had been behind the side impressively through the first 45 – were suddenly voicing their annoyance towards the team and the manager.

Indeed, the away end was mid-chant of “We Want Evatt Out” as Bolton made a foray into Rotherham territory on the hour, Schon crossing low to newly-arrived sub, Dion Charles, but he somehow managed to push the ball wide of goal from inside the six yard box.

The mood among the 2,166 who had made the effort grew darker with each passing minute in the second half, and though Rotherham seemed content to hold shape and let Bolton make the mistakes, they did find a third goal before the end.

Once again, it came from Wanderers’ inability to keep possession. A quick break launched through Wilks, who beat his man and brought a save out of Baxter before Nombe followed up for the goal his own performance had deserved.

Chants were aimed at Evatt from all sides before the end as the home supporters also joined in with the animosity, Bolton’s resistance reduced to practically nothing by the end.

McAtee provided a consolation, latching on to a ball from Charles to roll a shot into the bottom corner. Moments later, Josh Dacres-Cogley flashed a cross inches ahead of Aaron Collins’s outstretched boot.

But to have even hinted at a share of the spoils at that point would have been folly. Wanderers were well beaten, starting off the second half of the season with another contender for their worst performance.