Home
Wanderers have been challenged to pack more punch against Nottingham Forest.
Assistant boss Steve Parkin admits finding the right balance between attack and defence has proved problematic, particularly on home turf.
No team in the Championship has mustered fewer shots on goal than Bolton - and though Forest’s greater spending power means there will be an element of pragmatism involved tonight, he hopes to give fans something more to cheer.
Erhun Oztumer, rested in the draw at Rotherham United, looks set to be drafted back into the line-up which will be without the injured Gary O’Neil (calf), Will Buckley (hamstring) and Sammy Ameobi (ankle).
“We need to be a bit more progressive at times, we know that,” Parkin told The Bolton News. “I think when we use Ozzie is gives us a bit more.
“But we also don’t want to wreck our confidence by being on the end of a walloping and being too open. It’s about finding that nice balance where we can create chances, a bit like we did against Derby and Blackburn.
“We have to attack a bit quicker, which would be my opinion. We’ve spoken to the lads about being more dynamic – not necessarily counter attacking – but when we get into that middle third let’s be a bit faster so we can get shots and crosses in.”
Forest were among the Championship’s big spenders this summer, instigating a big squad overhaul at a cost of around £25million.
“I think they are a good, technical team with a pedigree manager,” said Parkin. “They have spent lots of money and the strength of the squad means they will be expected to be up there in May.
“It is just such a difficult league. We would like to be more progressive, we would like to create more, but you do have to be so careful not to leave yourself wide open against a team like that.
“It just shows this is the hardest division in the world. Everyone says the Premier League is tough but the lads at the bottom get nearly as much money to spend as those at the top.
“In our division there’s a big gap.”
Source
Assistant boss Steve Parkin admits finding the right balance between attack and defence has proved problematic, particularly on home turf.
No team in the Championship has mustered fewer shots on goal than Bolton - and though Forest’s greater spending power means there will be an element of pragmatism involved tonight, he hopes to give fans something more to cheer.
Erhun Oztumer, rested in the draw at Rotherham United, looks set to be drafted back into the line-up which will be without the injured Gary O’Neil (calf), Will Buckley (hamstring) and Sammy Ameobi (ankle).
“We need to be a bit more progressive at times, we know that,” Parkin told The Bolton News. “I think when we use Ozzie is gives us a bit more.
“But we also don’t want to wreck our confidence by being on the end of a walloping and being too open. It’s about finding that nice balance where we can create chances, a bit like we did against Derby and Blackburn.
“We have to attack a bit quicker, which would be my opinion. We’ve spoken to the lads about being more dynamic – not necessarily counter attacking – but when we get into that middle third let’s be a bit faster so we can get shots and crosses in.”
Forest were among the Championship’s big spenders this summer, instigating a big squad overhaul at a cost of around £25million.
“I think they are a good, technical team with a pedigree manager,” said Parkin. “They have spent lots of money and the strength of the squad means they will be expected to be up there in May.
“It is just such a difficult league. We would like to be more progressive, we would like to create more, but you do have to be so careful not to leave yourself wide open against a team like that.
“It just shows this is the hardest division in the world. Everyone says the Premier League is tough but the lads at the bottom get nearly as much money to spend as those at the top.
“In our division there’s a big gap.”
Source