BOLTON are beginning to show signs of life after their stuttering start under Ian Evatt.

His arrival from newly-promoted Barrow amid a flurry of signings was seen by many as the launchpad for an instant return to League One.

But it has not panned out like that in the opening couple of months.

From the moment that City won at the University of Bolton Stadium in the Carabao Cup on opening day, his completely-rebuilt team have struggled to live up to the hype.

They have won just one in eight league outings – and are yet to beat anybody on home turf.

Bolton have lost five out of six home games in all competitions with Grimsby the only visitors not to leave with maximum return after a goalless draw.

But having slumped to a last-gasp defeat to bottom side Oldham last time out on their own patch, Bolton have responded with two comebacks on the road.

Having fallen two down inside four minutes at Barrow a week ago, Evatt’s men climbed off the floor to force a 3-3 draw.

And on Saturday, they topped Cambridge from the League Two perch thanks to Antoni Sarcevic’s second-half equaliser. There were also strong claims that a second “goal” should have stood that would have sealed a morale-boosting victory.

As it is, Evatt believes his players can take heart from back-to-back spirited recoveries as they look to finally break that “UniBol” jinx.

For now, a 2-0 win over Tranmere on February 1 represents the only home success in 2020.

Evatt has quickly gained a reputation for saying it how it is – and came under fire for his public comments aimed at young keeper Billy Crellin after his Cambridge blunder.

The Fleetwood loanee, who was also blamed by his manager for Chris Taylor's opening goal for Barrow, was told to “man up” by Evatt – who then apologised the following day over his choice of words.