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With no let-up for Wanderers on the fixture schedule, Kyle Dempsey says trust among his team-mates is at an all-time high.
The midfielder, whose stunning strike warmed the cockles in a chilly Wednesday night win at Accrington, will be given little time to bask in his achievements.
Cheltenham Town come to the Toughsheet Stadium on Saturday still buoyant from beating league leaders Portsmouth last weekend and sensing they could get change from a Bolton team that has played two tough away games in the interim.
Ian Evatt will rotate his squad once again but Dempsey strongly believes there is no combination of the current options that could not seek out a result.
“We’re putting in high level performances at the moment,” he told The Bolton News. “And they are only that good because of the competition. Last year after a couple of injuries we were down to bare bones whereas this year we have such a depth of squad and some outstanding players, it all complements each other.
“We’ve got Cheltenham coming up now, but we just concentrate on ourselves. The gaffer puts all the work into us during the week and we prepare right.
“We’ll play our game and then hopefully the result takes care of itself.”
Cheltenham’s win against Pompey last weekend opens up an inviting window for Bolton, who are now just two points behind top spot with two games in hand.
Cup involvement means that the fixture deficit will not iron itself out for several weeks yet, but Dempsey says the focus within the dressing room does not stretch beyond the Robins’ visit.
“That is where the gaffer comes into his own,” he said. “He keeps us grounded and working 110 per cent every day, working on the smallest details.
“For now it is about concentrating on every game, get back to the league this weekend, and trying to win them.”
Victory at Accrington put Wanderers into the last eight of the Bristol Street Motors Trophy and two wins away from a return to Wembley.
Evatt made seven changes to his team, with Dempsey one of the few who kept his shirt from the goalless draw at Premier League Luton three days earlier.
On a wintry night, Stanley’s bustling style did cause problems, but the 28-year-old felt Bolton worked hard to get the right result.
“It was always the goal to come here, put in a professional performance and win the game, and I felt like we did all of that,” he said.
“Conditions and swirling winds played a part and you could see in the first half we were playing a lot of short balls, and to give credit to them their press was right on us.
“We the utilised the third line – Cam and Jon were excellent and held everything up, and then I was able to make the runs off them and get into my game. It was a good win.”
The spectacular third goal of the night was Dempsey’s first since he returned from a fractured back sustained against Fleetwood at the start of the season – and one he hopes to build upon in the coming weeks.
“It was one of those – as soon as I’d beat the man, I cut inside and put it into the far corner,” he said. “It flew off my boot and I knew it was going straight in.
“Since I came back from my injury I have added a few assists to my game, and now it is just adding the goals. On another night I could have had three, but it is a good sign when you get into those areas, and now it’s about taking more of them.”
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