George Thomason has called on Bolton Wanderers to finish the League One season with maximum points, refusing to let hopes of promotion vanish without a fight.
Saturday’s crushing 4-1 defeat at Barnsley left Wanderers three points adrift of the final play-off spot and needing a near-perfect run in their final four matches. With tough fixtures against Wycombe Wanderers and Lincoln City next, the pressure is well and truly on.
Despite the blow to their play-off ambitions, club captain Thomason insists belief remains strong within the squad and urged his teammates to focus fully on taking all 12 remaining points.
“We are not going to let the season limp out and fade out. We’ve got to go and try and win four out of four.”
Challenging Run-In
Bolton must also hope results elsewhere go their way, with Reading and Leyton Orient holding the advantage and possessing slightly more favourable schedules. Thomason, however, dismissed the idea of easy games in the run-in, insisting every team will play with pride until the very end.
“Teams aren’t just going to give up,” he said. “We all might have different run-ins but nobody will just roll over.”
Manager Steven Schumacher suggested after the Barnsley defeat that a squad shake-up could be on the horizon, prompting speculation that sweeping changes could arrive in the summer if the club fails to go up.
Thomason, one of the more experienced heads at the club, acknowledged that the team have fallen below expectations this term. Despite targeting automatic promotion back in August, Bolton have spent little time in the top six and now face an uphill climb to reach the play-offs.
He admitted that standards have to improve and emphasised the importance of effort and accountability throughout the squad.
“We try to be a representative on the pitch for the people who come and support us… but for too much of this season we haven’t done that.”
The defeat to Barnsley was Schumacher’s heaviest since taking over and one which Thomason admitted stung badly, especially given the timing. The midfielder described the start at Oakwell as “flat” and said the team only began competing once the game had slipped away.
Writer’s View
Bolton’s rollercoaster season has left them on the edge, and Thomason’s comments reflect a dressing room aware of what’s at stake. His leadership will be vital in keeping spirits high and performance levels raised. With four games left, a strong finish could yet salvage their season – but they’ll need help elsewhere. The challenge now is not only tactical, but psychological.
