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Neil Lennon says coping with the comedown after the high of Saturday’s FA Cup draw at Liverpool will be key if Wanderers are to register another three Championship points at Rotherham tonight.
The Whites head to South Yorkshire for the second successive league game looking to head back across the Pennines with maximum points - as they did after beating Sheffield Wednesday 10 days ago.
In between, though, they put in a huge effort to hold Liverpool at Anfield and earn a replay at the Macron Stadium next week.
And after experiencing the drain a big game puts on footballers in his own playing days with Leicester and Celtic, Lennon is mindful of making sure tonight’s return to league action is not a case of ‘after the Lord Mayor’s show’.
The Whites were not in full training yesterday with Lennon more focused on resting bodies and getting his players mentally prepared for the trip to New York Stadium.
He hopes, however, the upbeat mood after the weekend’s heroics can be carried over against the struggling Millers.
The Wanderers boss said: “The mood will be pretty upbeat after a great performance by the team and players on Saturday.
“But this game is different so we'll have to pick them up again.
“The psychology will be different and there's bound to be a bit of a comedown from the highlights of Saturday and that’s natural after a big game – it is not always a conscious thing.
“But we have to get them up and at it because this game is far more important now.
“There's a natural comedown but we'll have to work on that. It's down to the mental strength rather than the physical.
“The majority of them didn't train yesterday as there's no point.
“We wouldn't get much out of them so it was a recovery day, though the boys who didn't participate at the weekend trained as normal.”
On paper, tonight’s challenge looks a simpler one for Wanderers against a struggling Millers side who have lost their last three matches in league and cup.
In fact, Steve Evans’ side have won just once in 15 outings and their home record is just as poor with no win in eight stretching back to October's 2-1 derby win against Leeds United.
But Lennon is wary of complacency and is drumming into his players how to deal with going from underdogs at the weekend to favourites tonight.
He is an admirer of Evans achievements in getting the Millers to the second tier and knows his side will have to be prepared despite the short turnaround after such a physically and emotionally- draining tie at Anfield.
While Lennon has quickly moved on from the weekend and put all thoughts of the replay to the back of his mind ahead of tonight’s rearranged clash, he appreciates the achievement in earning a goalless draw at Anfield.
And he believes it will aid the development of the younger members of his squad.
Lennon added: “It's a great achievement in a very difficult game.
“The concentration levels and discipline were excellent.
“It's part of their learning for the likes of (Josh) Vela and (Conor) Wilkinson - part of learning what the game is like at that level when you don't have the ball for long periods and have to stay in the game and maximise the possession you have.”
It wasn’t just Lennon and his players who were filled with pride at Liverpool but the 5,500 travelling fans as well as chairman Phil Gartside.
And the Whites boss says it was great to see Wanderers back in the limelight, something he feels the club and its loyal fans deserve.
He said: “The chairman was quite emotional after the Liverpool game.
“It meant a lot to him and it is great to see Bolton back in the big time.
“The fans were incredible. It is potentially a big club. We took huge support to Anfield.
“I am sure it will be a full house for the replay as well.
“The crowds are now pushing up to 18-20,000 which is very healthy for the Championship."
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The Whites head to South Yorkshire for the second successive league game looking to head back across the Pennines with maximum points - as they did after beating Sheffield Wednesday 10 days ago.
In between, though, they put in a huge effort to hold Liverpool at Anfield and earn a replay at the Macron Stadium next week.
And after experiencing the drain a big game puts on footballers in his own playing days with Leicester and Celtic, Lennon is mindful of making sure tonight’s return to league action is not a case of ‘after the Lord Mayor’s show’.
The Whites were not in full training yesterday with Lennon more focused on resting bodies and getting his players mentally prepared for the trip to New York Stadium.
He hopes, however, the upbeat mood after the weekend’s heroics can be carried over against the struggling Millers.
The Wanderers boss said: “The mood will be pretty upbeat after a great performance by the team and players on Saturday.
“But this game is different so we'll have to pick them up again.
“The psychology will be different and there's bound to be a bit of a comedown from the highlights of Saturday and that’s natural after a big game – it is not always a conscious thing.
“But we have to get them up and at it because this game is far more important now.
“There's a natural comedown but we'll have to work on that. It's down to the mental strength rather than the physical.
“The majority of them didn't train yesterday as there's no point.
“We wouldn't get much out of them so it was a recovery day, though the boys who didn't participate at the weekend trained as normal.”
On paper, tonight’s challenge looks a simpler one for Wanderers against a struggling Millers side who have lost their last three matches in league and cup.
In fact, Steve Evans’ side have won just once in 15 outings and their home record is just as poor with no win in eight stretching back to October's 2-1 derby win against Leeds United.
But Lennon is wary of complacency and is drumming into his players how to deal with going from underdogs at the weekend to favourites tonight.
He is an admirer of Evans achievements in getting the Millers to the second tier and knows his side will have to be prepared despite the short turnaround after such a physically and emotionally- draining tie at Anfield.
While Lennon has quickly moved on from the weekend and put all thoughts of the replay to the back of his mind ahead of tonight’s rearranged clash, he appreciates the achievement in earning a goalless draw at Anfield.
And he believes it will aid the development of the younger members of his squad.
Lennon added: “It's a great achievement in a very difficult game.
“The concentration levels and discipline were excellent.
“It's part of their learning for the likes of (Josh) Vela and (Conor) Wilkinson - part of learning what the game is like at that level when you don't have the ball for long periods and have to stay in the game and maximise the possession you have.”
It wasn’t just Lennon and his players who were filled with pride at Liverpool but the 5,500 travelling fans as well as chairman Phil Gartside.
And the Whites boss says it was great to see Wanderers back in the limelight, something he feels the club and its loyal fans deserve.
He said: “The chairman was quite emotional after the Liverpool game.
“It meant a lot to him and it is great to see Bolton back in the big time.
“The fans were incredible. It is potentially a big club. We took huge support to Anfield.
“I am sure it will be a full house for the replay as well.
“The crowds are now pushing up to 18-20,000 which is very healthy for the Championship."
Source