Bolton Wanderers head coach, Steven Schumacher, has underlined that “fine-tuning” could be the key to returning to winning ways as his team prepares for a crucial clash with Wigan Athletic.
The last three fixtures—against Bristol Rovers, Stockport County, and Blackpool—have been difficult for Wanderers, with no points collected despite some promising aspects in each performance. While the results have not been in Bolton’s favour, Schumacher believes his players have shown enough quality to be optimistic about the future.
Creating Chances
Wanderers have created ample opportunities in recent games, but a lack of clinical finishing and costly defensive errors have left them empty-handed. Schumacher is not overly concerned about the team’s general play, though. He feels the work rate, intensity, and effort from the players are still there, but that the team simply needs to fine-tune their approach in front of goal and iron out the mistakes at the back.
As Wanderers find themselves in eighth place, just two points behind a play-off spot, the stakes for Tuesday’s match against Wigan are high. With teams around them gaining momentum, Schumacher is well aware of the pressure and significance of the upcoming clash.
“It’s really tight,” Schumacher said. “Over the last couple of weeks the teams already in the top six have picked up some good results and have created a little bit of a gap, so it is probably three or four teams who have got their eye on that last place.
“We are still in the mix. The three results that we’ve had lately that have gone against us could have all gone in a different way, but we find ourselves two points behind with eight games to go, so we’re definitely not out of it.”
Despite the frustration of falling short in recent matches, Schumacher remains optimistic that the team can still turn their fortunes around. The focus now is on refining their attacking play, improving clinical finishing, and maintaining the intensity levels that have been present throughout these matches.
One aspect that Schumacher admits is beyond his control, however, is the element of luck. A fortunate bounce or a referee’s decision going their way could tip the balance in Wanderers’ favour, and Schumacher acknowledges that these moments are part of the game.
“You need some quality in your performances and you need to be clinical as well,” he said. “But you do need a bit of luck. You need something to fall for you, something to bounce in your direction, which usually balances out over the course of a season.”
Writer’s View
The pressure is on for Wanderers as they approach this vital clash with Wigan, but Schumacher’s focus on tactical fine-tuning and player effort shows a methodical and pragmatic approach. While luck will always play a role in football, the manager is right to focus on what can be controlled—improving finishing and eliminating errors.
