Bolton Wanderers have recorded back-to-back victories, keeping their play-off hopes alive, but manager Steven Schumacher insists that more is needed from his squad.
The Trotters secured narrow wins over Wigan Athletic and Bristol Rovers, but Schumacher is not yet satisfied with the level of performance.
Crucial Three Points
A crucial second-half header from Aaron Collins against Bristol Rovers helped Bolton claim three points, though the match itself was a scrappy affair. With Rotherham United visiting tomorrow night, the manager is calling for a more polished display from his players.
“Good performances will lead to good results, so I still want us to play better,” said Schumacher. “I won’t be one of those going ‘I don’t worry about it if we are playing cr*p’ if we keep winning. Those two things don’t normally go hand in hand.”
Schumacher emphasised the importance of maintaining focus even when not performing at their best. He noted that if the team isn’t playing well, it becomes crucial to avoid mistakes and remain alert, especially during set-pieces.
A key moment in the Bristol Rovers match came in the second half, with goalkeeper Nathan Baxter making a vital save to deny Matt Butcher at close range. That save proved to be decisive, ensuring Collins’ 18th goal of the season remained enough for the win.
“It was a really important moment,” Schumacher explained. “That’s one of the reasons why we decided to put Nathan back in, because he’s a fantastic shot-stopper.”
Rotherham Next
Rotherham, who parted ways with manager Steve Evans last week, have won their last two games under caretaker manager Matt Hamshaw. Schumacher is fully aware of the threat posed by the Millers and expects a tough challenge when they come to the Toughsheet on Tuesday.
“It’s certainly something for us to build on and work off but we know Rotherham will be another tough game,” Schumacher said. “They had a great result against Blackpool, who have been really good recently, so we’ll watch that back and try and figure out what they’ll do. They are a physical team and they have got physical players, even though Steve’s left, the players are still the same, so we have to be ready for the challenge.”
Writer’s View
Despite securing vital wins, Steven Schumacher is clearly not satisfied with his team’s overall performance. This determination to push for better is exactly what could propel Bolton to their goal of securing a place in the play-offs. However, with injuries mounting in defence, the upcoming games against Rotherham and beyond will undoubtedly test the squad’s resolve. The Trotters will need to find more consistency if they are to secure a place in the top six.
