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PHIL Parkinson has warned his Wanderers to keep their engines revving or risk being left on the starting grid against Preston North End.
This week’s sub-zero temperatures have caused plenty of transportation problems in Bolton but the Whites boss is determined his side’s engine room will not get caught cold against their local rivals.
Parkinson admits his side were lucky not to fall behind at Deepdale when the two sides met in December, with Alex Neil’s men making an impressive start to the game.
With Josh Vela and Reece Burke in contention after injury and new signing Jan Kirchoff vying for a spot in midfield, the Wanderers boss feels his side is well-equipped to avoid the same problems.
“It will be a fast and furious game,” he told The Bolton News. “Both teams have good energy. I think it’s one of those where things might not settle for a long time.
“We have to be ready to compete. Going back to Deepdale before Christmas, we got caught in the derby atmosphere for the first 15-20 minutes, the intensity of it, and as the game went on we got better. This time we have to start quick.”
The lack of derbies in the Championship add a special tension to tomorrow’s clash but Parkinson has fared well at home against local rivals since arriving at the club – beating Blackpool, Oldham and Rochdale at the Macron last season.
Home form has given Wanderers a fighting chance of avoiding relegation and Parkinson has noticed an extra level of support since he lost the services of top scorer Gary Madine.
Preston’s away end will be well stocked, as the Lillywhites have designated the game their annual Gentry Day. But while travelling fans will be in a jovial mood, Parkinson is in no mind to send them back down the M61 anything other than disappointed.
“Since Gary went they have really galvanised behind the team,” he said of the Bolton fans. “I’ve said many times the lads are enjoying playing at home. The support has been terrific, particularly in recent weeks, and we have to keep that going.
“There will be 3-3,500 Preston fans here for their Gentry Day wanting a party. We have got to spoil it. We have to ruin their day. And if we play in the manner we have at home I think we have a good chance.”
Preston have also had to cope with the loss of a key man in Jordan Hugil, who had fired 10 goals in the Lancastrian’s play-off chase before joining West Ham in a reported £10million deal on deadline day.
“They are bit like us in that they lost Hugill, their target man, and we lost Madine,” Parkinson noted. “He didn’t play against us at their place but when I’d watched them they tried to hit him early. They brought Louis Moult in from Motherwell to replace him but he’s not exactly the same type of player.”
Parkinson expects few tactical surprises from his opponents, whose defeat against Ipswich Town last weekend was just their seventh of the campaign.
The Chorley-born Bolton boss, who watched Preston regularly with his parents as a youngster, sees no reason why they cannot sustain a charge for the top six.
“Preston will be 4-2-3-1, I doubt they will change from that, they have good energy in the wide areas and I can see why they have had some good results.
“They’ve had a very good run since we played them. Yes, they lost at the weekend but in general their form has been very, very good.
“They will still be looking at the top six. That seems to be the only place which is available now because the others look sewn up.”
Wanderers have been able to use their all-weather training dome at Lostock this week, purchased recently with money from the Goldline and Lifeline club lottery schemes.
Parkinson says the weather has impacted upon preparations for the Preston game - but was glad the dome was in place.
“It limits the training you can do in that area with the number of players we have got,” he said. “But I am really pleased we have it because without it I am not sure what we would have done.
“The lads have been brilliant. There hasn’t been any moaning – they have just got on with things, made it in, done their work in the gym and prepared as they normally would.”
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/wanderers/16060366.bolton-boss-phil-parkinson-out-to-spoil-prestons-gentry-day/?ref=mrb&lp=7
This week’s sub-zero temperatures have caused plenty of transportation problems in Bolton but the Whites boss is determined his side’s engine room will not get caught cold against their local rivals.
Parkinson admits his side were lucky not to fall behind at Deepdale when the two sides met in December, with Alex Neil’s men making an impressive start to the game.
With Josh Vela and Reece Burke in contention after injury and new signing Jan Kirchoff vying for a spot in midfield, the Wanderers boss feels his side is well-equipped to avoid the same problems.
“It will be a fast and furious game,” he told The Bolton News. “Both teams have good energy. I think it’s one of those where things might not settle for a long time.
“We have to be ready to compete. Going back to Deepdale before Christmas, we got caught in the derby atmosphere for the first 15-20 minutes, the intensity of it, and as the game went on we got better. This time we have to start quick.”
The lack of derbies in the Championship add a special tension to tomorrow’s clash but Parkinson has fared well at home against local rivals since arriving at the club – beating Blackpool, Oldham and Rochdale at the Macron last season.
Home form has given Wanderers a fighting chance of avoiding relegation and Parkinson has noticed an extra level of support since he lost the services of top scorer Gary Madine.
Preston’s away end will be well stocked, as the Lillywhites have designated the game their annual Gentry Day. But while travelling fans will be in a jovial mood, Parkinson is in no mind to send them back down the M61 anything other than disappointed.
“Since Gary went they have really galvanised behind the team,” he said of the Bolton fans. “I’ve said many times the lads are enjoying playing at home. The support has been terrific, particularly in recent weeks, and we have to keep that going.
“There will be 3-3,500 Preston fans here for their Gentry Day wanting a party. We have got to spoil it. We have to ruin their day. And if we play in the manner we have at home I think we have a good chance.”
Preston have also had to cope with the loss of a key man in Jordan Hugil, who had fired 10 goals in the Lancastrian’s play-off chase before joining West Ham in a reported £10million deal on deadline day.
“They are bit like us in that they lost Hugill, their target man, and we lost Madine,” Parkinson noted. “He didn’t play against us at their place but when I’d watched them they tried to hit him early. They brought Louis Moult in from Motherwell to replace him but he’s not exactly the same type of player.”
Parkinson expects few tactical surprises from his opponents, whose defeat against Ipswich Town last weekend was just their seventh of the campaign.
The Chorley-born Bolton boss, who watched Preston regularly with his parents as a youngster, sees no reason why they cannot sustain a charge for the top six.
“Preston will be 4-2-3-1, I doubt they will change from that, they have good energy in the wide areas and I can see why they have had some good results.
“They’ve had a very good run since we played them. Yes, they lost at the weekend but in general their form has been very, very good.
“They will still be looking at the top six. That seems to be the only place which is available now because the others look sewn up.”
Wanderers have been able to use their all-weather training dome at Lostock this week, purchased recently with money from the Goldline and Lifeline club lottery schemes.
Parkinson says the weather has impacted upon preparations for the Preston game - but was glad the dome was in place.
“It limits the training you can do in that area with the number of players we have got,” he said. “But I am really pleased we have it because without it I am not sure what we would have done.
“The lads have been brilliant. There hasn’t been any moaning – they have just got on with things, made it in, done their work in the gym and prepared as they normally would.”
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/wanderers/16060366.bolton-boss-phil-parkinson-out-to-spoil-prestons-gentry-day/?ref=mrb&lp=7
