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BOOS but no booze – Gary Madine has turned over a new leaf, according to Wanderers skipper Darren Pratley.
The striker, whose goal silenced the barracking he got at Sheffield United on Saturday, has not touched a drink since getting into trouble with police in November near his native Gateshead.
Pratley reckons Madine is keen to rid himself of the bad boy image he picked up because of criminal convictions early in his football career, which culminated in a spell in jail in 2013.
And after leading the line for Phil Parkinson in every Championship game this season – Madine is starting to get it right on and off the pitch.
“That’s eight goals for him this season and I don’t see why he can’t get 10-15 and establish himself as a Championship goal-scorer,” Pratley told The Bolton News. “He was brilliant today.
“Gaz has been really professional. He had a bit of trouble not too long ago but I think he’s gone teetotal – it can only be good for us.
“When we went out for the players’ Christmas do Gary didn’t come and that wasn’t the manager’s decision, it was his own choice. He’s focussed and he hasn’t had a drink since that day and I think he’s reaping the rewards for it.”
Hull City come to the Macron this afternoon having blown a two-goal lead against Fulham on Saturday, leaving them two points off the relegation zone.
The Tigers were in rampant mood when the two sides met at the KCOM Stadium in August, inflicting a damaging 4-0 defeat on Wanderers, who were struggling to adapt after promotion.
Pratley forecasts a scrappy game this time around, with plenty at stake for both clubs.
“We’ll be out of the bottom three if results go our way,” he said. “But we need to go again.
“I think this will be one of our hardest games of the season. If we can get a result then the FA Cup gives the manager a chance to give a few of the boys a rest and bring in some of the players who haven’t played as much.
“I don’t think many people would have thought we’d get a result against Sheffield United, let alone a win. Now we have to back it up.
“We’ve been in situations a lot where we’re expected to win – I remember Brentford, Burton – and these games are going to be hard. We need our fans to be with us, to be patient. It won’t be great football because everyone is fighting.
“If we beat them we go above them, if they win they push away. I don’t expect it to be pretty and I’d imagine they’ll be coming to try and get our fans on our back. We need to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
Parkinson knows Madine’s form will be attracting potential suitors in the January window but the Wanderers boss remains confident he will keep hold of his 27-year-old target man.
“Gaz’s physical output is way ahead of what it was, and I think there are a lot of teams who can see a striker they would love to have in their side,” he said.
“I think it’s important we keep our best players, the chairman has assured me we will, but Gaz was very, very good but I’m pleased for him because of what happened at Bramall Lane last year.”
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/15801257._Teetotal__Gaz_is_a_sinner_no_longer__says_Wanderers_skipper/?ref=mrb&lp=13
The striker, whose goal silenced the barracking he got at Sheffield United on Saturday, has not touched a drink since getting into trouble with police in November near his native Gateshead.
Pratley reckons Madine is keen to rid himself of the bad boy image he picked up because of criminal convictions early in his football career, which culminated in a spell in jail in 2013.
And after leading the line for Phil Parkinson in every Championship game this season – Madine is starting to get it right on and off the pitch.
“That’s eight goals for him this season and I don’t see why he can’t get 10-15 and establish himself as a Championship goal-scorer,” Pratley told The Bolton News. “He was brilliant today.
“Gaz has been really professional. He had a bit of trouble not too long ago but I think he’s gone teetotal – it can only be good for us.
“When we went out for the players’ Christmas do Gary didn’t come and that wasn’t the manager’s decision, it was his own choice. He’s focussed and he hasn’t had a drink since that day and I think he’s reaping the rewards for it.”
Hull City come to the Macron this afternoon having blown a two-goal lead against Fulham on Saturday, leaving them two points off the relegation zone.
The Tigers were in rampant mood when the two sides met at the KCOM Stadium in August, inflicting a damaging 4-0 defeat on Wanderers, who were struggling to adapt after promotion.
Pratley forecasts a scrappy game this time around, with plenty at stake for both clubs.
“We’ll be out of the bottom three if results go our way,” he said. “But we need to go again.
“I think this will be one of our hardest games of the season. If we can get a result then the FA Cup gives the manager a chance to give a few of the boys a rest and bring in some of the players who haven’t played as much.
“I don’t think many people would have thought we’d get a result against Sheffield United, let alone a win. Now we have to back it up.
“We’ve been in situations a lot where we’re expected to win – I remember Brentford, Burton – and these games are going to be hard. We need our fans to be with us, to be patient. It won’t be great football because everyone is fighting.
“If we beat them we go above them, if they win they push away. I don’t expect it to be pretty and I’d imagine they’ll be coming to try and get our fans on our back. We need to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
Parkinson knows Madine’s form will be attracting potential suitors in the January window but the Wanderers boss remains confident he will keep hold of his 27-year-old target man.
“Gaz’s physical output is way ahead of what it was, and I think there are a lot of teams who can see a striker they would love to have in their side,” he said.
“I think it’s important we keep our best players, the chairman has assured me we will, but Gaz was very, very good but I’m pleased for him because of what happened at Bramall Lane last year.”
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/15801257._Teetotal__Gaz_is_a_sinner_no_longer__says_Wanderers_skipper/?ref=mrb&lp=13