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WANDERERS’ return to winning ways at Birmingham was all child’s play, according to right-back Kevin McNaughton.
The Cardiff loanee may be a veteran performer these days but says the enthusiasm brought to training by new boss Neil Lennon in his first week at the helm has been like a breath of fresh air through the camp.
McNaughton admitted the smiles are back and the proof was in the pudding when they clinched a first away win of the campaign and a clean sheet to boot at St Andrew’s.
Lennon has played a major role in bringing the good feeling back to Euxton but McNaughton revealed he had a little help from a secret weapon – his eight-year-old son Gallagher.
The Whites defender said: “He (Lennon) had his son in during the week and he just said ‘look, he lives and breathes football’.
“We need to get back to that, feeling like a young lad again, just enjoying your football.
“You shouldn’t be going out there, especially on the training pitch feeling all doom and gloom.
“His son was at the training ground, playing around and you could see his young lad’s enthusiasm. Everything was exciting and I think we had lost that.
“It becomes a job. It shouldn’t be, you should be enjoying it.
“The 2,000 supporters (at Birmingham) would love to be in our position.
“You have got to get your head round that and be positive with your body language.
“When a new manager comes in it can mean good things or bad things.
“It has all been positive. He has tried to lift the place this week which was the main thing.
“It’s a new challenge for him as well and that’s rubbed off on the players. He has been enthusiastic and came out training with us.”
“The boys were down in the dumps and he made a point of trying to get smiles back on faces, trying to lift spirits.”
Lennon will know himself it is still early days in his Bolton career but a winning start will have pleased him.
McNaughton believes a simpler approach on the training ground helped them secure that first victory on the road in the Midlands and hopes for a similar outcome in south London at Charlton tonight as they look to gather some momentum.
The 32-year-old Scot added: “It was muck and nettles second half (at Birmingham) but it was enjoyable.
“He wanted us to play on the front foot which I thought we did for large parts of the game and personally I enjoyed the way we tried to play today.
“We pressed and tried to keep them locked in. We have been letting teams out.
“We should have killed the game off but we will take the three points in the position we are now.
“Training has been a lot different. Under the previous manager we worked a lot on shape, trying to get us playing a certain way.
“But he just picked a team and said without you boys, tactics mean nothing. It’s down to the players to make the tactics work.
“We had a licence to go and play. We have been leaking a lot of goals so it was just a case of getting up higher on the opponents and it will be the same again against Charlton.”
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/11547322.Playing_is_kids__stuff_for_Wanderers/
The Cardiff loanee may be a veteran performer these days but says the enthusiasm brought to training by new boss Neil Lennon in his first week at the helm has been like a breath of fresh air through the camp.
McNaughton admitted the smiles are back and the proof was in the pudding when they clinched a first away win of the campaign and a clean sheet to boot at St Andrew’s.
Lennon has played a major role in bringing the good feeling back to Euxton but McNaughton revealed he had a little help from a secret weapon – his eight-year-old son Gallagher.
The Whites defender said: “He (Lennon) had his son in during the week and he just said ‘look, he lives and breathes football’.
“We need to get back to that, feeling like a young lad again, just enjoying your football.
“You shouldn’t be going out there, especially on the training pitch feeling all doom and gloom.
“His son was at the training ground, playing around and you could see his young lad’s enthusiasm. Everything was exciting and I think we had lost that.
“It becomes a job. It shouldn’t be, you should be enjoying it.
“The 2,000 supporters (at Birmingham) would love to be in our position.
“You have got to get your head round that and be positive with your body language.
“When a new manager comes in it can mean good things or bad things.
“It has all been positive. He has tried to lift the place this week which was the main thing.
“It’s a new challenge for him as well and that’s rubbed off on the players. He has been enthusiastic and came out training with us.”
“The boys were down in the dumps and he made a point of trying to get smiles back on faces, trying to lift spirits.”
Lennon will know himself it is still early days in his Bolton career but a winning start will have pleased him.
McNaughton believes a simpler approach on the training ground helped them secure that first victory on the road in the Midlands and hopes for a similar outcome in south London at Charlton tonight as they look to gather some momentum.
The 32-year-old Scot added: “It was muck and nettles second half (at Birmingham) but it was enjoyable.
“He wanted us to play on the front foot which I thought we did for large parts of the game and personally I enjoyed the way we tried to play today.
“We pressed and tried to keep them locked in. We have been letting teams out.
“We should have killed the game off but we will take the three points in the position we are now.
“Training has been a lot different. Under the previous manager we worked a lot on shape, trying to get us playing a certain way.
“But he just picked a team and said without you boys, tactics mean nothing. It’s down to the players to make the tactics work.
“We had a licence to go and play. We have been leaking a lot of goals so it was just a case of getting up higher on the opponents and it will be the same again against Charlton.”
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/11547322.Playing_is_kids__stuff_for_Wanderers/