'Better than that' - Joel Dixon backed as Bolton hopeful on Kyle Dempsey injury

The goalkeeper made an error in the win over Barrow which led to a goal

05:00, 24 Nov 2022

Bolton Wanderers' Joel Dixon has been backed by Ian Evatt. (Image: Paul Greenwood - CameraSport via Getty Images)

Ian Evatt has assured that Bolton Wanderers will support goalkeeper Joel Dixon following his error against Barrow.

The shot-stopper was handed a rare start in the 3-2 win over the Bluebirds - a victory which secured Wanderers' passage to the last 16 of the Papa Johns Trophy. Goals from Dapo Afolayan, Jon Dadi Bodvarsson and Elias Kachunga sealed victory for the Whites.

Wanderers were 2-0 up when Dixon spilled Ben Whitfield's effort, which led to Josh Kay turning home and giving the Bluebirds a route back into the clash. Niall Canavan headed the League Two side level, before Kachunga's winner, with Wanderers able to then see out the game. And post-match, Evatt backed the goalkeeper after his error and vowed that nobody will be more disappointed than Dixon himself.

He said: “He’ll be disappointed with it and I know he’s better than that. He’s been training really well and for whatever reason at the moment, every mistake he seems to make in games, it seems to go in. But we think he’s a really good goalkeeper and we’ll support him. There will be nobody more disappointed than Joel Dixon with that goal, but the most important thing is the team managed to rally and get us through to the next round.”

Wanderers midfielder Kyle Dempsey was forced off early in the game with an ankle injury. On that, Evatt said things 'do not look great' for the midfielder, but Wanderers are hopeful the injury is not as bad as first feared.

He said: “These things come to test and challenge you at times and I think Kyle has had a rough spell and a rough time of things, but he’s a good player and a good character and we need to support him whatever the injury says and what the diagnosis is.

“But for now, just get round him, give him lots of love and support and hopefully it’s not as bad as we first fear. We’ve got a good squad of players. We’ve made nine changes tonight and still at times looked very fluid, at times not so good. I was really pleased with Eoin Toal, I thought he was really good and an excellent performance.

“It’s important that we build up these minutes for these players that haven’t been playing regularly on Saturdays and in league fixtures and we saw some good things and some not so good, but the most important thing is we’re through to the next round.”

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