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PHIL Parkinson has challenged Wanderers to go out and complete a hat-trick against leaders Sheffield United this afternoon.
The Whites have already chalked up two home victories over the Blades in league and cup and a third would put them firmly in the hunt for top spot in League One.
Jay Spearing’s suspension and an injury to the similarly-influential defender Andy Taylor leave Parkinson short on options at Bramall Lane, and his team as heavy underdogs.
But the Whites boss has demanded his players compensate for their absence, as they did to salvage a point with a second-half comeback against Bradford City last week.
And with a psychological edge given to them by previous results, he believes a big upset against Chris Wilder’s champions-elect is entirely possible.
“When you think we have won two games against Sheffield United in testing circumstances, there is no reason why this game should be any different,” he told The Bolton News.
“Certainly when you look back at the opening day of the season when there were doubts over whether players had been registered in time to actually play the game. We virtually had to piece a team together at the last minute.
“From that game onwards when we lost Darren Pratley we have coped with injury problems. Every week we face challenges.
“The odds are stacked against us again. So let’s go there and prove ourselves all over again.”
Blades boss Wilder says Wanderers’ quality has gone “under the radar” because of their off-the-field problems in the last 12 months.
Parkinson, whose side go into the game seven points behind the leaders, with two games in hand, has urged them not to waste their hard work.
“Sheffield United spent a lot of money putting a good squad together and they are where they are in the table on merit,” he said. “Chris Wilder has done an extremely good job assembling a very good team. But we have beaten them twice, and with everything that has gone on here we have held on to the shirt tails of the top two to keep ourselves in contention.”
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/15115842.Let__39_s_beat_the_bookie__Parkinson_issues_battle_cry_ahead_of_Bramall_Lane_clash/?ref=mr&lp=3
The Whites have already chalked up two home victories over the Blades in league and cup and a third would put them firmly in the hunt for top spot in League One.
Jay Spearing’s suspension and an injury to the similarly-influential defender Andy Taylor leave Parkinson short on options at Bramall Lane, and his team as heavy underdogs.
But the Whites boss has demanded his players compensate for their absence, as they did to salvage a point with a second-half comeback against Bradford City last week.
And with a psychological edge given to them by previous results, he believes a big upset against Chris Wilder’s champions-elect is entirely possible.
“When you think we have won two games against Sheffield United in testing circumstances, there is no reason why this game should be any different,” he told The Bolton News.
“Certainly when you look back at the opening day of the season when there were doubts over whether players had been registered in time to actually play the game. We virtually had to piece a team together at the last minute.
“From that game onwards when we lost Darren Pratley we have coped with injury problems. Every week we face challenges.
“The odds are stacked against us again. So let’s go there and prove ourselves all over again.”
Blades boss Wilder says Wanderers’ quality has gone “under the radar” because of their off-the-field problems in the last 12 months.
Parkinson, whose side go into the game seven points behind the leaders, with two games in hand, has urged them not to waste their hard work.
“Sheffield United spent a lot of money putting a good squad together and they are where they are in the table on merit,” he said. “Chris Wilder has done an extremely good job assembling a very good team. But we have beaten them twice, and with everything that has gone on here we have held on to the shirt tails of the top two to keep ourselves in contention.”
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/15115842.Let__39_s_beat_the_bookie__Parkinson_issues_battle_cry_ahead_of_Bramall_Lane_clash/?ref=mr&lp=3