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Phil Parkinson wants Wanderers to answer their critics in style by completing a league double against Birmingham City tonight.
Despite relegation fears increasing with a weekend defeat to Preston North End, the Bolton boss says his players are still capable of hauling themselves away from the bottom three.
But as he welcomes Mark Beevers back into the squad at St Andrew’s, Parkinson has warned his players they can afford no let-up if they are to get themselves back in the fans’ good books once again.
“We are not going to walk off the pitch at any point and say we’ve won but we’ve been below par. We have to be right at it,” he told The Bolton News.
“That is what I am expecting. That’s what the fans will expect as well.
“When you are down at the bottom, as we were last year, as we are now, you can have bad runs of results but still stay in the division. We have to halt this one quickly, though.
“We lost with the last kick of the game against Norwich but put in a terrific, spirited performance. It was a full-on committed day where everyone did the job they had been asked to do.
“We were very unlucky not to get something from the game against a team that is top of the league.
“We are capable but we can’t do it at 75 per cent. We have to be flat out.
“Whatever shape, whatever personnel, people have to do the job for the team.”
Luca Connell (calf), Jack Hobbs (Achilles), Yanic Wildschut (ankle) and Joe Williams (thigh) are out injured tonight, with Jonathan Grounds also unable to play against his parent club.
Parkinson has come in for heavy criticism during recent weeks and says he will shoulder his part of the blame for a run of just one victory in 21 games.
But he also remains convinced his squad can turn their season around.
“We need to get in touch with that pack of teams above us,” he said.
“I always look at myself, look at the team I picked, I really do. But we need more fighting spirit and play more like a team that is scrapping for their lives.”
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Despite relegation fears increasing with a weekend defeat to Preston North End, the Bolton boss says his players are still capable of hauling themselves away from the bottom three.
But as he welcomes Mark Beevers back into the squad at St Andrew’s, Parkinson has warned his players they can afford no let-up if they are to get themselves back in the fans’ good books once again.
“We are not going to walk off the pitch at any point and say we’ve won but we’ve been below par. We have to be right at it,” he told The Bolton News.
“That is what I am expecting. That’s what the fans will expect as well.
“When you are down at the bottom, as we were last year, as we are now, you can have bad runs of results but still stay in the division. We have to halt this one quickly, though.
“We lost with the last kick of the game against Norwich but put in a terrific, spirited performance. It was a full-on committed day where everyone did the job they had been asked to do.
“We were very unlucky not to get something from the game against a team that is top of the league.
“We are capable but we can’t do it at 75 per cent. We have to be flat out.
“Whatever shape, whatever personnel, people have to do the job for the team.”
Luca Connell (calf), Jack Hobbs (Achilles), Yanic Wildschut (ankle) and Joe Williams (thigh) are out injured tonight, with Jonathan Grounds also unable to play against his parent club.
Parkinson has come in for heavy criticism during recent weeks and says he will shoulder his part of the blame for a run of just one victory in 21 games.
But he also remains convinced his squad can turn their season around.
“We need to get in touch with that pack of teams above us,” he said.
“I always look at myself, look at the team I picked, I really do. But we need more fighting spirit and play more like a team that is scrapping for their lives.”
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