Ian Evatt: Bolton Wanderers boss says FA Cup experience can aid promotion ambitions
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FA Cup: Luton come from behind to beat League One Bolton - highlights
Bolton Wanderers boss Ian Evatt says what his side have learned across two FA Cup games with Premier League opposition can aid their League One promotion ambitions this season.
Evatt's side lost 2-1 to Luton Town in Tuesday's FA Cup third-round replay.
Fourth in League One, Bolton have at least two games in hand on their promotion rivals due to their cup run.
"What I've learned about my team is that once again, they responded," Evatt told BBC Radio Manchester.
"That was a new level and bar set for a performance and if we can replicate that [on Saturday] at Leyton Orient as many times as possible we'll have no worries with our ambitions this year."
Bolton initially held the Hatters to a goalless draw at Kenilworth Road to set up Tuesday's replay at home and had led through Dion Charles before Tahith Chong and Chiedozie Ogbene sent the visitors through.
Despite the defeat, Bolton's season is well on track, with Evatt's side losing just three times in their past 17 league games to keep them in the promotion picture.
"On performance, I'm a little bit upset with the result because I thought we deserved more. I thought we were excellent and their staff, which I have great respect for, and their players were very complimentary about what we did," Evatt added.
"We got punished and one thing I told the players was that against Premier League opposition, if you make mistakes you get punished and you have to be tight with everything you do.
"You can't afford to give them opportunities because they take them."