Despite Bolton’s inconsistent opening third to the league season, Wycombe Wanderers boss Matt Bloomfield was full of praise for his opposite number Ian Evatt.

The latter took over the Trotters in 2020 following their relegation to League Two after a financially stricken 2019/20 campaign.

A huge rebuild followed during the pandemic, but Evatt managed to achieve promotion at the first attempt.

Three consecutive top-10 finishes have since followed two back-to-back play-off campaigns in 2023 and 2024, but they have ended in disappointment.

Bolton lost the semi-finals to Barnsley two seasons ago but lost in the Wembley showpiece to Oxford United in May.

They currently sit in 8th, winning nine of their opening 18 league games, but have suffered some poor defeats.

Most notably a 5-0 thumping away at Stockport, who were thrashed at the hands of Wycombe by the same score four days earlier, as well as losing 2-0 at home to struggling Wigan Athletic.

Speaking ahead of Friday’s match, Bloomfield said: “When you come off losing a play-off final and you come back next season, you’ve had a shorter pre-season than everyone else, and there can be a hangover from that disappointment.

“From that, it’s kind of natural that they had a slower start, but we know they have got a good squad, they have added to their group and they are evolving.

“They have also retained a few good players who have played under Ian for a good few years so they know his methods.

“They are a huge club with very good players and we played two very good games against them last season, and we’re hoping for another on Friday night.”