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One goal could make all the difference for Wanderers as they look to arrest a worrying slide of Championship form.
Phil Parkinson’s side has failed to score in seven of its last nine games, creating a confidence issue which clearly evident in recent defeats against Hull City and Aston Villa.
A total 27 shots at goal were taken over the course of the last two games, just six of which have been on target.
So while those numbers bear out the manager’s claim that his side are learning to play more effective attacking football, coolness in front of goal has cost them any points to show for it.
“I think on the ball at Villa we looked confident,” Parkinson said. “Obviously we knew there would be periods of pressure because of the pace and power they have in their side on the break. In our general build-up play I’d say there’s no problem with confidence.
“In terms of putting the ball in the back of the net you’d have to say there is an issue.
“Villa, Hull, you can go back a whole list of games where we have had opportunities to score, and change the mood, and we just needed someone to take one. When we do, we will get going again, I have no doubt about it.
“Confidence is a big thing but we can only get it back by working hard. No-one is going to hand a goal to us on a plate.”
Since beating Derby County at the University of Bolton Stadium, Wanderers have scored just one goal and taken one point from six games.
Josh Magennis, who leads the club’s scoring charts on four, has not scored on his last nine starts.
Parkinson says he has done everything possible to rectify problems in front of goal on the training ground but that perseverance is needed as the club prepare to face Swansea City this weekend.
“We have worked on the training ground, we’ve worked through video presentations to the players and previous goals they have scored, looked at other clubs and where the ball needs to go for our key players, the percentages and types of finish – we have done all that over the last week.
“I really believed we would get a goal at Villa as a result of that hard work, I really did.
“But what can we do apart from keep going. I think in the main people have seen that our performance level has been good.”
Parkinson has made more changes to his starting line-up than any other manager in the Championship over the course of the first 16 games.
He disputes, however, that there was a recognisable effect on the performance at Villa Park.
“We made changes but I don’t think they affected the fluency of the team,” he said. “I thought some of our play was excellent. We are passing the ball as well as we have since I have been here in this run.
“But it is about making your pressure count and everyone just needs a lift by sticking the ball in between the three white sticks. Attitude and application, I can’t fault it, because the lads gave everything.”
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Phil Parkinson’s side has failed to score in seven of its last nine games, creating a confidence issue which clearly evident in recent defeats against Hull City and Aston Villa.
A total 27 shots at goal were taken over the course of the last two games, just six of which have been on target.
So while those numbers bear out the manager’s claim that his side are learning to play more effective attacking football, coolness in front of goal has cost them any points to show for it.
“I think on the ball at Villa we looked confident,” Parkinson said. “Obviously we knew there would be periods of pressure because of the pace and power they have in their side on the break. In our general build-up play I’d say there’s no problem with confidence.
“In terms of putting the ball in the back of the net you’d have to say there is an issue.
“Villa, Hull, you can go back a whole list of games where we have had opportunities to score, and change the mood, and we just needed someone to take one. When we do, we will get going again, I have no doubt about it.
“Confidence is a big thing but we can only get it back by working hard. No-one is going to hand a goal to us on a plate.”
Since beating Derby County at the University of Bolton Stadium, Wanderers have scored just one goal and taken one point from six games.
Josh Magennis, who leads the club’s scoring charts on four, has not scored on his last nine starts.
Parkinson says he has done everything possible to rectify problems in front of goal on the training ground but that perseverance is needed as the club prepare to face Swansea City this weekend.
“We have worked on the training ground, we’ve worked through video presentations to the players and previous goals they have scored, looked at other clubs and where the ball needs to go for our key players, the percentages and types of finish – we have done all that over the last week.
“I really believed we would get a goal at Villa as a result of that hard work, I really did.
“But what can we do apart from keep going. I think in the main people have seen that our performance level has been good.”
Parkinson has made more changes to his starting line-up than any other manager in the Championship over the course of the first 16 games.
He disputes, however, that there was a recognisable effect on the performance at Villa Park.
“We made changes but I don’t think they affected the fluency of the team,” he said. “I thought some of our play was excellent. We are passing the ball as well as we have since I have been here in this run.
“But it is about making your pressure count and everyone just needs a lift by sticking the ball in between the three white sticks. Attitude and application, I can’t fault it, because the lads gave everything.”
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