Some like it riff: Stone Roses song ignites Bolton Wanderers' play-off charge

IAN Evatt anticipates an electric atmosphere for tonight’s play-off second leg – helped in no small part by Indie legends The Stone Roses.

Wanderers fans have adapted the 1989 classic Waterfall to their own ends, with the terrace chant providing a bouncy soundtrack to Friday night’s 3-1 first-leg win at Oakwell.

Other clubs – including rivals Manchester United – have also used the guitar-laden tune in the past but after seeing it catch on, Bolton are expected to play the song before kick-off tonight.

Though there is a serious job to be completed against the Tykes, Evatt has been delighted to see his players and the fans bond at such a key time in the campaign.

“Barnsley are a fantastic team and they will always ask you questions,” he said. “Everyone talks about the run they have been on, but they have been in most of those games and it has been quite tight as well.

“We are not resting on our laurels at all, we are fully focussed and know exactly what we need to do. And we have to take advantage of being at home.

“We need this crowd behind us, and they absolutely are. I think we have all managed to reset post-season and make sure we are ready for this.

“Friday really helped and I am looking forward to a brilliant atmosphere, hearing the fans in full voice, the song that nobody can manage to get out of their head at the moment. Even our players are singing it to each other, it’s crazy.

“It just shows that one little song can help bring people together. It was a fantastic atmosphere Friday and obviously a fantastic result. Now we need to do all we can to replicate it.”

Evatt is equally pleased with the mood within his own squad.

With only two players – Carlos Mendes Gomes and Jon Dadi Bodvarsson – unavailable through injury, the task of picking a team for the semi-final has not been easy for the Bolton boss.

But he has been encouraged by the unity shown on all fronts as the club looks to return to the Championship after a five-year gap.

“We have seen glimpses of that all season,” he said. “I have contacts and friends in the game and I won’t name names but someone high up in a leading Premier League team commented about our subs and non-squad members at an away game he’d visited. How they supported the team was really striking to him.

“What we have created here is very special. There is a huge amount of togetherness and there is a good culture and environment.

“Everyone involved in the football department is hugely proud to be here. We think the world of the place and its supporters and we are doing the best to make them happy.

“We have a couple of steps more to take, and a huge one on Tuesday night, but there is no group trying harder to be successful, I can guarantee that.”