IAN Evatt said he was proud of the way his Wanderers battled back for a point after a dramatic return to his former club Barrow.

Antoni Sarcevic’s injury time goal snatched a much-needed point after a second half where Bolton found parity difficult to restore.

Two down inside four minutes, Peter Kioso brought the Whites back into it before Dior Angus restored Barrow’s two-goal cushion.

Eoin Doyle headed home to get Bolton within reach again and Kioso missed a golden opportunity to level just before half time.

Evatt accepts the early defending was poor – but he felt the character shown by his players to haul themselves back into the contest was worthy of praise.

“We can’t start games like that and give away goals but the third goal was at least three yards offside, we seen it back, and it baffles me how you can get that decision so wrong. It wasn’t even tight. I don’t think he was in the same postcode as our defenders,” he said.

“But I am proud of them, I have to say. For the first time this season we have shown fight, we have shown desire, we have shown a set of testicles and you need to sometimes.”

Evatt was also involved in a verbal exchange with some of the home staff who were watching from the stands after the final whistle.

Taking exception at some of the comments aimed at him through the game, the Bolton head coach felt he was within his right to celebrate Sarcevic’s late goal.

“I just think some people have very small memories and some of the shouts from the stands were very poor throughout the game,” he said.

“It’s football and I love Barrow AFC, always have done and always will do. The platform they gave me as a manager and what we did for each other is special and will never be taken away from us.

“I have nothing but admiration for this town, this club and its supporters and nothing will ever change that.

“Football is an emotional game. We’ll celebrate when we win and we won’t when we lose. And when you score a last-minute goal like that – it’s emotional for me because I have never had a chance to say goodbye, see the other players and celebrate the success at the end of last season because of the pandemic. It hurts.

“But I am manager of a fantastic football club now and I am extremely proud of the way my players fought.”