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Darren Pratley is desperate to see Wanderers on the right side of the relegation line.
Phil Parkinson’s team could climb out of the bottom three for the first time in nearly 14 weeks with a victory over Reading at the Macron Stadium tonight.
And after passing up one opportunity at Preston last Friday night, Bolton skipper Pratley is determined to make the most of home advantage.
“For everyone, mentally, it would be a big lift for us to get out of the bottom three – for us, everyone around the town,” he told The Bolton News.
“Six or seven weeks ago it looked by Christmas time we’d be one of the teams with an ‘R’ next to our name. Getting beaten two, three-nil every week, we didn’t look like scoring.
“Now we’re only a few points off it. If we get above that line our mind-set has got to change, we have to do everything we can to stay out of it. It would be great to start looking up the table.
“Reading were in the play-offs last year, they are a good side.
“They will probably think they are underachieving for where they are in the league, so with it being at home we could use a good result. We have certainly got a tough one coming up at weekend against Wolves.”
Pratley feels Wanderers’ season changed on a tactical switch from 3-5-2 to 4-2-3-1, prompted by the return of Sammy Ameobi and Josh Vela from injury.
“I think it changed when the shape of the team changed,” he said. “We started off with 3-5-2 and did well with it in League One but up here it’s better opposition and we got punished. We were too open but now we’re more solid.
“Karl Henry coming in was important, he’s a leader, helps us set up. And getting Sammy Ameobi and Josh Vela back in the team – they can carry the ball up the pitch and give us a breather. It makes a massive difference.
“Once we started drawing and winning games the confidence goes up. When you are getting beat every week, even a 10-yard pass is tough. You start over-thinking everything.”
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Phil Parkinson’s team could climb out of the bottom three for the first time in nearly 14 weeks with a victory over Reading at the Macron Stadium tonight.
And after passing up one opportunity at Preston last Friday night, Bolton skipper Pratley is determined to make the most of home advantage.
“For everyone, mentally, it would be a big lift for us to get out of the bottom three – for us, everyone around the town,” he told The Bolton News.
“Six or seven weeks ago it looked by Christmas time we’d be one of the teams with an ‘R’ next to our name. Getting beaten two, three-nil every week, we didn’t look like scoring.
“Now we’re only a few points off it. If we get above that line our mind-set has got to change, we have to do everything we can to stay out of it. It would be great to start looking up the table.
“Reading were in the play-offs last year, they are a good side.
“They will probably think they are underachieving for where they are in the league, so with it being at home we could use a good result. We have certainly got a tough one coming up at weekend against Wolves.”
Pratley feels Wanderers’ season changed on a tactical switch from 3-5-2 to 4-2-3-1, prompted by the return of Sammy Ameobi and Josh Vela from injury.
“I think it changed when the shape of the team changed,” he said. “We started off with 3-5-2 and did well with it in League One but up here it’s better opposition and we got punished. We were too open but now we’re more solid.
“Karl Henry coming in was important, he’s a leader, helps us set up. And getting Sammy Ameobi and Josh Vela back in the team – they can carry the ball up the pitch and give us a breather. It makes a massive difference.
“Once we started drawing and winning games the confidence goes up. When you are getting beat every week, even a 10-yard pass is tough. You start over-thinking everything.”
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