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Whichever way you slice it, the numbers make great reading on the pitch for Phil Parkinson and Wanderers right now.
Eight consecutive home wins on the spin for the first time since April 2013, a defensive record which betters most of the top clubs in Europe and an incredible eight clean sheets in their last 11 league games all points towards a happy Christmas at the Macron.
But while he beamed with pride recounting a 4-0 win against Gillingham where nearly everything the Whites touched turned to goals, the manager followed up his praise with a stern underlying message.
For while Wanderers are breathing down the neck of Scunthorpe United at the top of the table as the season draws close to the half-way marker, there is still plenty of work to be done.
“As much as you want to enjoy the winning feeling, and it is a good one, we have to keep our feet firmly on the ground and get ready for what will be a really tough game against Chesterfield this weekend,” he said after the game.
“They are fighting for their lives at the moment and we’ll need every bit of the togetherness, mentality and spirit we showed against Gillingham again in the next game.
“Nothing less than that will be good enough.”
More than the margin of victory, which was entirely deserved, the fact Wanderers had avoided any nervous second-half moments was a big plus for Parkinson.
The defensive solidity on which this season’s success has been built was only tested briefly by the visitors in a 10-minute spell after the half-time interval, by which time the Whites were already two goals to the good.
But after Gary Madine had scored his second of the game, Parkinson was delighted to see his side enforce their advantage.
“It was probably as complete performance as we’ve had since I have been here,” he admitted.
“We didn’t sit back, we killed the game off. You were always going to get some sort of response in the second period when the team was 2-0 down and there was a bit more eagerness in their pressing. But we came through it and started to control the game again.
“We have got a group of players who are playing really well but the thing I was most pleased with was that we kicked on.
“You saw in the Premier League the other week when Liverpool went 3-1 up and got beat 4-3. When you are leading you still need to have an edge about your play and understand that if you are slack in any area you can still be punished.
“I wanted us to push on, get the next goal and kill the game off completely at 2-0.
“It shows we are developing as a side.”
Considering the chaos which existed at the Macron in the first few months of 2016, the club head into the final fortnight of the year in a relatively stable state.
Boardroom issues have resurfaced over the last month as Ken Anderson’s takeover and Dean Holdsworth’s share sale have thrown up their fair share of concerning sub plots.
Parkinson has largely kept his own counsel aside from urging both his players and the fans to concentrate on the field of play. His efforts at keeping focus in the dressing room have been incredibly impressive – but standout performances like the one on Monday night will also help to manage any lingering concern on the terraces about the ownership situation.
“It’s good to showcase Bolton Wanderers live on television on a Monday night,” Parkinson said.
“We did it last time at Bury when we had some great away support and once again we’ve shown what a great club this really is.
“It is very important we send out a message to the rest of the division but also to the rest of the country that Bolton Wanderers is alive and kicking. We are trying to push on.”
Source
Eight consecutive home wins on the spin for the first time since April 2013, a defensive record which betters most of the top clubs in Europe and an incredible eight clean sheets in their last 11 league games all points towards a happy Christmas at the Macron.
But while he beamed with pride recounting a 4-0 win against Gillingham where nearly everything the Whites touched turned to goals, the manager followed up his praise with a stern underlying message.
For while Wanderers are breathing down the neck of Scunthorpe United at the top of the table as the season draws close to the half-way marker, there is still plenty of work to be done.
“As much as you want to enjoy the winning feeling, and it is a good one, we have to keep our feet firmly on the ground and get ready for what will be a really tough game against Chesterfield this weekend,” he said after the game.
“They are fighting for their lives at the moment and we’ll need every bit of the togetherness, mentality and spirit we showed against Gillingham again in the next game.
“Nothing less than that will be good enough.”
More than the margin of victory, which was entirely deserved, the fact Wanderers had avoided any nervous second-half moments was a big plus for Parkinson.
The defensive solidity on which this season’s success has been built was only tested briefly by the visitors in a 10-minute spell after the half-time interval, by which time the Whites were already two goals to the good.
But after Gary Madine had scored his second of the game, Parkinson was delighted to see his side enforce their advantage.
“It was probably as complete performance as we’ve had since I have been here,” he admitted.
“We didn’t sit back, we killed the game off. You were always going to get some sort of response in the second period when the team was 2-0 down and there was a bit more eagerness in their pressing. But we came through it and started to control the game again.
“We have got a group of players who are playing really well but the thing I was most pleased with was that we kicked on.
“You saw in the Premier League the other week when Liverpool went 3-1 up and got beat 4-3. When you are leading you still need to have an edge about your play and understand that if you are slack in any area you can still be punished.
“I wanted us to push on, get the next goal and kill the game off completely at 2-0.
“It shows we are developing as a side.”
Considering the chaos which existed at the Macron in the first few months of 2016, the club head into the final fortnight of the year in a relatively stable state.
Boardroom issues have resurfaced over the last month as Ken Anderson’s takeover and Dean Holdsworth’s share sale have thrown up their fair share of concerning sub plots.
Parkinson has largely kept his own counsel aside from urging both his players and the fans to concentrate on the field of play. His efforts at keeping focus in the dressing room have been incredibly impressive – but standout performances like the one on Monday night will also help to manage any lingering concern on the terraces about the ownership situation.
“It’s good to showcase Bolton Wanderers live on television on a Monday night,” Parkinson said.
“We did it last time at Bury when we had some great away support and once again we’ve shown what a great club this really is.
“It is very important we send out a message to the rest of the division but also to the rest of the country that Bolton Wanderers is alive and kicking. We are trying to push on.”
Source