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Wanderers have been told to expect no favours at Shrewsbury Town as they attempt to match their best away run in 17 years.
Not since the days when Mark Lawrenson sported a moustache has a Bolton team won four consecutive games on the road.
But Phil Parkinson has warned his side that if they are to emulate Sam Allardyce’s promotion-winners of 2001, they had better be prepared for rough treatment at the tranquil-sounding Greenhous Meadow.
“This is the last game in a batch – the two midweek trips sandwiched between the Saturday,” he told The Bolton News. “The challenge now is, can we finish it on a high?
“The last few weeks we’ve got ourselves into a good position but can we ram home the advantage at Shrewsbury and make sure that table looks even better?
“We have spoken a lot this season about mentality, and what it takes to get results. You need character in your team, you need discipline. Yes, we have got the goals of late but those performances have been built on blood, sweat and tears.
“We always say to the lads when they are away from home that the elements are going to be against us - the ref, the pitch, the crowd.
“All these things we have dealt with over the course of the season and it’s vitally important we do it again at Shrewsbury.”
The euphoria which followed a third-consecutive four-goal rout in midweek has died down quickly at Lostock, with Parkinson and his staff determined to get back to business quickly.
Injuries have been assessed and a review of the 4-2 win over Oxford has unearthed some issues that the manager wants to address.
“We had a good look at that game and there were a lot of good qualities but also a lot of bits I’d like to see improved upon,” he said. “We have been playing three at the back for a while and that was the first time we’d come up against a team with that shape. It has given us an opportunity to talk about that with the lads and show where we can improve.
“We’d like to add one or two ingredients to make us even stronger.
“I’m certainly not complaining about the goals but sometimes when you win you are in danger as a manager and as a coaching staff to brush over games but it’s important you still look at areas that individuals can improve on.
“The character and the way the lads are driving each other on has been terrific is vital.
“Shrewsbury are a team fighting for their lives. Let’s take our minds back to the first of those three away wins at Fleetwood and show that same physicality, edge of determination all over the pitch.”
Shrewsbury have beaten Bradford and Scunthorpe at home this year but a yield of just two points from teams around them – Coventry, Chesterfield and Port Vale – has undone that hard work.
Parkinson believes the tension among the home fans this afternoon could work in Wanderers’ favour if they are able to raise their game.
“I have seen quite a bit of Shrewsbury,” he said. “Paul has done quite a good job there because he went in and simplified things. They look a well-coached and do the simple things well.
“They had a good run to get out of the bottom four but now they are looking over their shoulder again, which must frustrate the manager. I saw Port Vale beat them on Friday and I was quite pleased, for us, that the result went that way. I wanted them to have a lot to play for because it gives an extra edge of tension.”
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Not since the days when Mark Lawrenson sported a moustache has a Bolton team won four consecutive games on the road.
But Phil Parkinson has warned his side that if they are to emulate Sam Allardyce’s promotion-winners of 2001, they had better be prepared for rough treatment at the tranquil-sounding Greenhous Meadow.
“This is the last game in a batch – the two midweek trips sandwiched between the Saturday,” he told The Bolton News. “The challenge now is, can we finish it on a high?
“The last few weeks we’ve got ourselves into a good position but can we ram home the advantage at Shrewsbury and make sure that table looks even better?
“We have spoken a lot this season about mentality, and what it takes to get results. You need character in your team, you need discipline. Yes, we have got the goals of late but those performances have been built on blood, sweat and tears.
“We always say to the lads when they are away from home that the elements are going to be against us - the ref, the pitch, the crowd.
“All these things we have dealt with over the course of the season and it’s vitally important we do it again at Shrewsbury.”
The euphoria which followed a third-consecutive four-goal rout in midweek has died down quickly at Lostock, with Parkinson and his staff determined to get back to business quickly.
Injuries have been assessed and a review of the 4-2 win over Oxford has unearthed some issues that the manager wants to address.
“We had a good look at that game and there were a lot of good qualities but also a lot of bits I’d like to see improved upon,” he said. “We have been playing three at the back for a while and that was the first time we’d come up against a team with that shape. It has given us an opportunity to talk about that with the lads and show where we can improve.
“We’d like to add one or two ingredients to make us even stronger.
“I’m certainly not complaining about the goals but sometimes when you win you are in danger as a manager and as a coaching staff to brush over games but it’s important you still look at areas that individuals can improve on.
“The character and the way the lads are driving each other on has been terrific is vital.
“Shrewsbury are a team fighting for their lives. Let’s take our minds back to the first of those three away wins at Fleetwood and show that same physicality, edge of determination all over the pitch.”
Shrewsbury have beaten Bradford and Scunthorpe at home this year but a yield of just two points from teams around them – Coventry, Chesterfield and Port Vale – has undone that hard work.
Parkinson believes the tension among the home fans this afternoon could work in Wanderers’ favour if they are able to raise their game.
“I have seen quite a bit of Shrewsbury,” he said. “Paul has done quite a good job there because he went in and simplified things. They look a well-coached and do the simple things well.
“They had a good run to get out of the bottom four but now they are looking over their shoulder again, which must frustrate the manager. I saw Port Vale beat them on Friday and I was quite pleased, for us, that the result went that way. I wanted them to have a lot to play for because it gives an extra edge of tension.”
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