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Phil Parkinson doesn’t think a Churchillian speech will be necessary as his Wanderers team makes a bid for survival at Burton Albion.
For all the intense pressure surrounding this afternoon’s game at the Pirelli Stadium, the Bolton boss detected an air of quiet confidence among his players as they travelled to the team hotel yesterday afternoon.
As The Bolton News went to press a decision on whether to play Antonee Robinson or Filipe Morais – who had picked up shoulder and calf problems, respectively – had not been made.
But though the pair’s absence would mean at least two changes to the line-up, Parkinson feels the mood in the camp is right to take a big step to safety.
“It feels like we have waited a long time for the game to come around,” he told The Bolton News. “We are aware of what’s at stake, the magnitude of the game. But I think since the Barnsley result on Tuesday night there has been a real lift among the lads.
“Sometimes you can plan the final team-talk but then pick up on a vibe in the dressing room and it all changes. Sometimes you don’t have to say anything at all.
“You assess the mood of the group and that’s what I’ll be doing.”
Though confidence is a good sign among a team which has struggled for results in recent weeks, Parkinson stresses it cannot turn into cockiness.
“We can’t go down there just expecting to win,” he said. “That would be a big mistake.
“If you look at the teams which have gone there recently, they thought they were going to just turn up and win. It took a late equaliser for Boro, and Derby got beat. Hull went down there with a focused attitude and won. We cannot take Burton lightly at all.”
Parkinson feels redemption is on offer after defeat to Burton back in December.
“This is about producing our best performance of the season when it matters most,” he added.
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For all the intense pressure surrounding this afternoon’s game at the Pirelli Stadium, the Bolton boss detected an air of quiet confidence among his players as they travelled to the team hotel yesterday afternoon.
As The Bolton News went to press a decision on whether to play Antonee Robinson or Filipe Morais – who had picked up shoulder and calf problems, respectively – had not been made.
But though the pair’s absence would mean at least two changes to the line-up, Parkinson feels the mood in the camp is right to take a big step to safety.
“It feels like we have waited a long time for the game to come around,” he told The Bolton News. “We are aware of what’s at stake, the magnitude of the game. But I think since the Barnsley result on Tuesday night there has been a real lift among the lads.
“Sometimes you can plan the final team-talk but then pick up on a vibe in the dressing room and it all changes. Sometimes you don’t have to say anything at all.
“You assess the mood of the group and that’s what I’ll be doing.”
Though confidence is a good sign among a team which has struggled for results in recent weeks, Parkinson stresses it cannot turn into cockiness.
“We can’t go down there just expecting to win,” he said. “That would be a big mistake.
“If you look at the teams which have gone there recently, they thought they were going to just turn up and win. It took a late equaliser for Boro, and Derby got beat. Hull went down there with a focused attitude and won. We cannot take Burton lightly at all.”
Parkinson feels redemption is on offer after defeat to Burton back in December.
“This is about producing our best performance of the season when it matters most,” he added.
Source
