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Karl Henry says a revived Wanderers dressing room is ready to get a season-defining result at Preston north End on Friday night.
Bragging rights are up for grabs at Deepdale as two old Lancashire rivals resume action after the international break.
But midfielder Henry insists victory in the televised game could be worth much more – especially if it takes the Whites out of the bottom three.
Speaking to The Bolton News, the midfielder said: “For me, it’s bigger than the outcome of one game. To get a result on the road, to potentially climb out of the relegation zone, would be massive. It could have a huge impact on our season.
“I know how much a result will mean to the supporters and we need to make sure we put in a performance worthy of a local derby.
“But we were going well before the international break and we certainly don’t want it to end there. Safety is within sight.”
Henry has made a big impact in the Wanderers midfield since coming in on a free transfer 10 games into the Championship campaign.
Yet he feels the attacking additions of Josh Vela and Sammy Ameobi after injury have been just as influential in the current five-game unbeaten run.
“I didn’t come in on my first day to a dressing room which was down and out,” he said. “You have to look at the players which were missing – Sammy Ameobi and Josh Vela – they are key parts of the puzzle. They can produce goals out of nothing at all.
“It’s nice the run has coincided with me coming into the team, and it’s nice that people think I have made an impact, but I have been one of many in the squad who have contributed to things turning around.
Wanderers may have plenty of work left to do to haul themselves clear of the bottom three but Henry sensed a difference in defeat at Aston Villa at the end of September to suggest Phil Parkinson’s side could scrap their way to safety.
“Sometimes they say you have to hit rock bottom,” he said. “Maybe the defeat at Bristol City was that game for us?
“I thought the performance at Aston Villa was a decent away performance against a tough team, it was the start of something.
“We went down to 10 at Bristol City and they were out of sight, really, but at Villa Park we started to show we were fighting.”
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Bragging rights are up for grabs at Deepdale as two old Lancashire rivals resume action after the international break.
But midfielder Henry insists victory in the televised game could be worth much more – especially if it takes the Whites out of the bottom three.
Speaking to The Bolton News, the midfielder said: “For me, it’s bigger than the outcome of one game. To get a result on the road, to potentially climb out of the relegation zone, would be massive. It could have a huge impact on our season.
“I know how much a result will mean to the supporters and we need to make sure we put in a performance worthy of a local derby.
“But we were going well before the international break and we certainly don’t want it to end there. Safety is within sight.”
Henry has made a big impact in the Wanderers midfield since coming in on a free transfer 10 games into the Championship campaign.
Yet he feels the attacking additions of Josh Vela and Sammy Ameobi after injury have been just as influential in the current five-game unbeaten run.
“I didn’t come in on my first day to a dressing room which was down and out,” he said. “You have to look at the players which were missing – Sammy Ameobi and Josh Vela – they are key parts of the puzzle. They can produce goals out of nothing at all.
“It’s nice the run has coincided with me coming into the team, and it’s nice that people think I have made an impact, but I have been one of many in the squad who have contributed to things turning around.
Wanderers may have plenty of work left to do to haul themselves clear of the bottom three but Henry sensed a difference in defeat at Aston Villa at the end of September to suggest Phil Parkinson’s side could scrap their way to safety.
“Sometimes they say you have to hit rock bottom,” he said. “Maybe the defeat at Bristol City was that game for us?
“I thought the performance at Aston Villa was a decent away performance against a tough team, it was the start of something.
“We went down to 10 at Bristol City and they were out of sight, really, but at Villa Park we started to show we were fighting.”
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