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Neil Lennon has urged his players to take control of their own destiny against MK Dons tomorrow.
Already seven points adrift of safety, defeat at the Macron Stadium would leave Wanderers with a mountain to climb over the remainder of the campaign.
Many have already written relegation off as a fait accompli but the manager insists there is no such attitude coming from his dressing room.
And though events off the field continue to cast a shadow, Lennon will demand his players focus solely on matters on the pitch.
“This is pressure we’ve brought on ourselves,” he told The Bolton News. “We’re in this situation because we haven’t got results but if we beat MK Dons the whole landscape changes again. Things look different.
“You can’t plan anything at the moment. It’s the old cliché, taking every game as it comes. We can’t look past MK Dons and wonder what might happen here or there.
“I certainly haven’t given up hope of getting out of this and I don’t think the players have either – so we need a win on Saturday and then we take it from there.”
Keeper Ben Amos will replace Paul Rachubka after sitting out the 3-2 FA Cup replay win over Eastleigh through suspension.
But Lennon has issues in attack with Gary Madine almost certainly missing because of a groin strain, Zach Clough still nursing a hip problem and Emile Heskey an injured calf. Shola Ameobi will start despite his contract e
David Wheater has been ruled out for up to six weeks with a hamstring, meaning Dorian Dervite and Rob Holding could be asked to continue the central defensive partnership first tested in midweek against Eastleigh.
“We’ve had a huge volume of games and the squad is quite light,” Lennon said.
“Some players are prone to picking up injuries but David had a very good run in the team.
“He’d been playing consistently well but there was always that likelihood that the volume of games would catch up with him, and it just did.”
Lennon feels his side can take some confidence from having put three goals past non-league opponents in midweek.
“I can’t remember the last time we scored three,” he said. “They were good goals, good attacking play. Any win helps to breed confidence so we need to make sure we take that into Saturday now.”
Meanwhile, Wanderers have confirmed they will hand an allocation of 6,800 to Leeds United for the forthcoming FA Cup fourth round clash – the largest away following ever at the Macron Stadium.
Source
Already seven points adrift of safety, defeat at the Macron Stadium would leave Wanderers with a mountain to climb over the remainder of the campaign.
Many have already written relegation off as a fait accompli but the manager insists there is no such attitude coming from his dressing room.
And though events off the field continue to cast a shadow, Lennon will demand his players focus solely on matters on the pitch.
“This is pressure we’ve brought on ourselves,” he told The Bolton News. “We’re in this situation because we haven’t got results but if we beat MK Dons the whole landscape changes again. Things look different.
“You can’t plan anything at the moment. It’s the old cliché, taking every game as it comes. We can’t look past MK Dons and wonder what might happen here or there.
“I certainly haven’t given up hope of getting out of this and I don’t think the players have either – so we need a win on Saturday and then we take it from there.”
Keeper Ben Amos will replace Paul Rachubka after sitting out the 3-2 FA Cup replay win over Eastleigh through suspension.
But Lennon has issues in attack with Gary Madine almost certainly missing because of a groin strain, Zach Clough still nursing a hip problem and Emile Heskey an injured calf. Shola Ameobi will start despite his contract e
David Wheater has been ruled out for up to six weeks with a hamstring, meaning Dorian Dervite and Rob Holding could be asked to continue the central defensive partnership first tested in midweek against Eastleigh.
“We’ve had a huge volume of games and the squad is quite light,” Lennon said.
“Some players are prone to picking up injuries but David had a very good run in the team.
“He’d been playing consistently well but there was always that likelihood that the volume of games would catch up with him, and it just did.”
Lennon feels his side can take some confidence from having put three goals past non-league opponents in midweek.
“I can’t remember the last time we scored three,” he said. “They were good goals, good attacking play. Any win helps to breed confidence so we need to make sure we take that into Saturday now.”
Meanwhile, Wanderers have confirmed they will hand an allocation of 6,800 to Leeds United for the forthcoming FA Cup fourth round clash – the largest away following ever at the Macron Stadium.
Source