IAN Evatt insists his style of football can lead to a successful second half of the season for Wanderers – and that his players are behind his plan to double down on the approach.

The Bolton boss remains steadfast in his belief that his squad can play an effective possession-based style and turn around a campaign which has thus far failed to impress.

Evatt drew some encouragement from what he saw at Lincoln City in midweek, as the Whites responded to defeat at Rotherham United with a narrow win at Sincil Bank in the Vertu Trophy.

Fans have made their feelings known, many turning on the brand of football which has become Evatt’s hallmark during his four-and-a-half years with the club.

But the manager maintains his ways can work and that he has the backing of the dressing room.

“We've got a good squad of players,” he said. “They've suffered a lot this season. We've all suffered a lot this season, but we can't keep talking about that.

“We have to stay positive. I believe in them and they believe in me. Anything else in that just isn't right or isn't true.

“We're going to stick together. We're going to stick to the way that we want to do things and stick to our DNA that we've created. Hopefully, come the end of the season, that's enough.”

Evatt took away positives from the Trophy performance at Lincoln but knows there will be more scrutiny on Saturday when his side welcome Cambridge United to the Toughsheet in front of another expectant home crowd.

There has been much speculation about what type of atmosphere will be generated in the stadium after last weekend’s angry scenes in the second half at Rotherham.

But the manager remains confident his players can build on their midweek win.

“It's okay when there's a smaller crowd and there's not much stress and pressure but we have to do it when there is stress and pressure. We need to believe in it because when we get it right, we're a good team,” he said.

“Yes, you've got to be able to do perform. But I genuinely don't feel like anybody that turns up to that stadium on Saturday will want to see our team lose. Well, I hope that's not the case because they shouldn't be coming if that is the case.

“Provided they support the players, the players will try to do the right thing for them and win the football match. That's all we want really is to win football matches consistently. It's all everybody wants and that's probably why we've had the stress and pressure because we haven't done it enough.

“Hopefully, Saturday we can show a good performance and win the game.”