WANDERERS fans called once again for Ian Evatt’s head as his side wilted in the final quarter against Charlton to blow yet another chance to get involved in the play-off mix.

Having played some positive football for an hour, a re-shaped and makeshift defence looked suspect under late pressure to let all three points slip through their grasp.

Joel Randall had opened the scoring after half time, with Bolton looking good value for their lead at the time. But once Lloyd Jones equalised, there was a sad inevitability about what would happen next. Karoy Anderson supplied the killer blow four minutes from the end.

Wanderers made three changes to the side that drew against Cambridge United with Josh Sheehan restored to the starting line-up for the first time since early December, Will Forrester replacing the injured Ricardo Santos at the back and Jordi Osei-Tutu also coming in for Gethin Jones and moving into midfield.

That also meant a change in formation. George Johnston partnered Forrester in the centre of defence with Josh Dacres-Cogley and Szabi Schon acting as full-backs. Joel Randall also pushed up to partner Aaron Collins, although with both players also keen to be involved in the build-up, Bolton did suffer for a slight lack of focal point up front.

The first half was nevertheless encouraging. It was clear from kick-off by the threadbare crowd that some season ticket holders were absent, and judging the mood of Saturday’s crowd it is also not difficult to guess why.

But those who were in attendance found themselves pleasantly surprised, as Wanderers put together some of their best football of the month so far.

The eight-minute delay at the start of the game came as a result of a supporter in the West Stand Lower requiring medical treatment. A half-time message said they had been taken to Bolton Hospital for treatment.

When the game started, Bolton took a little time to adjust to their new shape, each pause on the ball inviting just a little nervousness from the crowd. They soon established a rhythm, however, with Schon working overtime on the left and Sheehan hardly missing a beat on his return.

Osei-Tutu was also a willing runner on the right and he created the game’s first chance with a fizzing low cross from the right, Collins’ effort blocked well by Lloyd Jones, and Schon just unable to convert the rebound.

Thierry Small was Charlton’s chief threat on their right. Though Schon worked hard to contain him, the former Everton and Southampton wide man’s pace was always a concern, and he forced Luke Southwood into a save at his near post early on.

Bolton’s pressing game was also on message. Charlton defender Macauley Gillesphey was guilty of a couple of loose passes to put his side in trouble. Given that incentive, it was frustrating that the Whites couldn’t make the visitors pay for their sloppiness.

Forrester produced one excellent block in front of his own goal to divert a shot from Tyreece Campbell but Bolton’s new look back four coped relatively comfortably with everything else that came their way in the opening 45 minutes.

Indeed, as the half wore on it looked likely that Bolton would edge ahead. Sheehan and Thomason started to push further forward, and the real chances started to appear.

Ashley Maynard-Brewer pushed one fierce shot from Osei-Tutu wide after a fine flowing move involving Thomason, Schon and Randall. Sheehan then brought another save out of the Charlton keeper with a deflected effort.

The only real moment of trouble Wanderers encountered was on the stroke of half time when Thomason picked up a yellow card for a cynical foul, then made another tired-looking challenge on halfway a few moments later. Referee Jacob Miles had a word but showed leniency.

Ian Evatt’s side has, as a side note, have now picked up 71 yellow cards, more than any other side in League One.

Bolton have not habitually strung two identical halves of football together, so there was a sense of trepidation after the break that we had already seen our best. Thankfully, within a couple of minutes Thomason looped a header from Morley’s cross on to the bar, and momentum was sustained.

Maynard-Brewer then produced another save from Joel Randall after putting his team under pressure with a poor kick. Wanderers continued to push forward and even the centre-halves were getting in on the act, Forrester starting and nearly finishing a move as he threw himself at Collins’ cross from the right.

After knocking on the door for so long, could the Whites make a breakthrough? Well, on this occasion, yes.

Once again, possession was won back and the first ball was a positive one, Osei-Tutu putting Collins down the right, and his cross was turned in by Randall.

For a moment it looked as though Wanderers would add a second and put the game to bed. Schon and Randall had half chances and the pace of the game slowed. Charlton made a flurry of substitutions and, moments later, were celebrating an equaliser.

Gillesphey’s cross caught Bolton napping at the back for the first time on the night, and Jones stuck out a boot to score his first goal since the opening day of the season.

The crowd response was a positive one but Charlton started to grow in confidence and looked more convincing in transition than they had for the previous 70 minutes.

The edge had dropped off for Bolton in possession and Evatt had resisted the temptation to make multiple substitutions, exchanging only Jay Matete for Josh Sheehan.

The potential for a real sucker punch became ever more likely and with four minutes to go, the failure to properly clear a free kick from the right gave a chance to sub Karoy Anderson, his effort taking a huge deflection to leave Southwood flat-footed and the stadium stunned.

Charlton scrapped their way through the final few minutes and deep into stoppage time as a pass from Southwood drifted harmlessly out of play, the first chants of “Evatt Out” emerged from the East Lower.

Boos met the final whistle, Bolton’s players sunk to their haunches. A night that had promised much delivered a depressingly familiar end product.