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DOUGIE Freedman has urged people not to underestimate how hard his side are working to change their Championship fortunes.
Wanderers go into a home clash with Derby County today with just one win from their first eight games, only above the bottom three on goal difference.
Playmaker Mark Davies returns from a virus that kept him out of the midweek cup exit to Chelsea, while defender Kevin McNaughton also stands by to make his first appearance in seven games.
Freedman has spent the last couple of days rallying for support at the Macron Stadium but accepts such a request is a “hard sell”.
The Whites boss has come under heavy fire from fans in recent weeks.
“People wouldn’t believe the work ethic that has gone on behind these walls to try and turn things round,” he told The Bolton News.
“Hand on heart we don’t think we’re far away. Sometimes you put the work in and you don’t get what you deserve in football.
“It won’t change my belief that we have a good group of players that are up for a fight, up for a battle, and we’re confident we can turn it round quickly.”
The effort levels displayed against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in midweek were widely praised but Freedman now finds himself having to replicate that in a busy spell of league games against Derby, Fulham and Bournemouth.
And the Scot feels it is too early to write-off the club’s season just yet.
“The cup run has put a few quid in the club’s pocket and now we look at the Championship. We’re only eight games in,” he said.
“I accept completely we’re in a results industry. But I won’t let anyone get at my players because that spirit is what I’m trying to build here and I am building it.
“I had to remove people who sat in the dressing room and told people they didn’t want to be here. They thought they were too big for this football club.
“Win, lose or draw the players I have now show up every Monday morning. I can’t ask for anything more than that.
“When eventually I manage to add some more quality, or a few youngsters, then we’ll see the athleticism, the flair, everything else that people tell me we haven’t got.
“Can I go out and buy them? No I can’t. Look at our friends across the road at Wigan, they have bought a young group of players – but is the time right for a young group? I’d question that. It’s very, very difficult for them in the Championship. I won’t have people questioning our commitment or our attitude.”
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/wanderers/bolton_wanderers/11499918.Bolton_Wanderers_boss_Dougie_Freedman_admits_getting_fans_onside_is_a_hard_sell/
Wanderers go into a home clash with Derby County today with just one win from their first eight games, only above the bottom three on goal difference.
Playmaker Mark Davies returns from a virus that kept him out of the midweek cup exit to Chelsea, while defender Kevin McNaughton also stands by to make his first appearance in seven games.
Freedman has spent the last couple of days rallying for support at the Macron Stadium but accepts such a request is a “hard sell”.
The Whites boss has come under heavy fire from fans in recent weeks.
“People wouldn’t believe the work ethic that has gone on behind these walls to try and turn things round,” he told The Bolton News.
“Hand on heart we don’t think we’re far away. Sometimes you put the work in and you don’t get what you deserve in football.
“It won’t change my belief that we have a good group of players that are up for a fight, up for a battle, and we’re confident we can turn it round quickly.”
The effort levels displayed against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in midweek were widely praised but Freedman now finds himself having to replicate that in a busy spell of league games against Derby, Fulham and Bournemouth.
And the Scot feels it is too early to write-off the club’s season just yet.
“The cup run has put a few quid in the club’s pocket and now we look at the Championship. We’re only eight games in,” he said.
“I accept completely we’re in a results industry. But I won’t let anyone get at my players because that spirit is what I’m trying to build here and I am building it.
“I had to remove people who sat in the dressing room and told people they didn’t want to be here. They thought they were too big for this football club.
“Win, lose or draw the players I have now show up every Monday morning. I can’t ask for anything more than that.
“When eventually I manage to add some more quality, or a few youngsters, then we’ll see the athleticism, the flair, everything else that people tell me we haven’t got.
“Can I go out and buy them? No I can’t. Look at our friends across the road at Wigan, they have bought a young group of players – but is the time right for a young group? I’d question that. It’s very, very difficult for them in the Championship. I won’t have people questioning our commitment or our attitude.”
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/wanderers/bolton_wanderers/11499918.Bolton_Wanderers_boss_Dougie_Freedman_admits_getting_fans_onside_is_a_hard_sell/
