BOLTON Wanderers boss Ian Evatt felt his side had been 'mugged' their 2-0 defeat at Colchester United.

Goals from Tom Eastman and Jevani Brown condemned the Trotters to a fourth straight defeat in all competitions, on Saturday afternoon.

Evatt was disappointed with the result - but pleased with his side's performance.

Evatt said: “I think there was a massive improvement from last week, definitely – I think everyone could see that.

“If we can play more like that for 44 more games and be more ruthless, then we’ll win a lot more than we lose.

“That’s the first time that I’ve really thought ‘this looks more like my team’.

“We need to keep improving week on week but it’s early in the season and you don’t win trophies, championships and promotions in September.

“That’s the best we’ve played, with the pace and the speed and I feel like we’ve been mugged a bit, to be honest.

“They scored just before half-time with a set-piece and that sapped a bit of energy from us.

“In the second half, we came out and we dominated the ball again.

“I’d like to see the possession stats but Colchester at this level are a very good team.

"They reached the play-offs last year and they have some very good players.

"They're a possession-based team but I don't remember them having much possession.

"We've all of that - now it's just finding goals.

"But the change in shape and tweak in formation seems to suit us a lot more and it's coming."

Bolton have lost their first two games in League Two, following their relegation last season.

But former Barrow boss Evatt is more than confident that the wins are on their way.

He added: "I understand it's frustrating - I'm as frustrated as anybody.

"I get that and I also get that I'm in the history of managers who have lost the first four games in charge.

"But that doesn't bother me because I know what's coming and I'm more than confident in myself and my own abilities.

"Today was the day where I really thought that they started to gather and take on this information.

"If you take the goals out of the game, we completely dominated it.

"I'd encourage fans to watch it and you'll agree with me."