Bolton Wanderers Boss Braggs “Heavily” Ahead Of Birmingham City Clash And He Said The…

Bolton Wanderers boss ready for Birmingham City test

AFTER grinding out a point against Wrexham, Steven Schumacher wants Wanderers to go one better by taking something from the league leaders Birmingham City tomorrow night.

The Whites had to dig deep to preserve a goalless draw at the Racecourse Ground on Saturday but the stakes will be raised against a Blues side that has been beaten just twice all season in League One.

Much has been made of the Midlanders’ mammoth budget – not to mention the record-breaking £11m capture of striker Jay Stansfield from Fulham – but Schumacher is calling on the whole the Toughsheet Stadium to provide an extra push in what could be a defining night in the promotion race.

“Look, it is going to be a tough game and they are the best team in the league currently, they are sitting at the top of the league, being strong, it’ll be a big test,” Schumacher said.

“But what we’ll do is go for it, give it our all, because that’s what we’re about.

It’ll be a good atmosphere, there’ll be loads of fans in there, and we need to make sure that we get the stadium rocking, because it can’t be an easy game for them.”

Schumacher hopes that a defensively solid performance against Wrexham – his first clean sheet since taking charge – can give his players a boost against Birmingham.

“It should give them a bit of confidence,” he said. “We’ll definitely play better than that football-wise, but if we continue to battle like that and scrap and do the ugly side of the game, then that’s OK too.

It’ll be a good atmosphere, there’ll be loads of fans in there, and we need to make sure that we get the stadium rocking, because it can’t be an easy game for them.”

Schumacher hopes that a defensively solid performance against Wrexham – his first clean sheet since taking charge – can give his players a boost against Birmingham.

“It should give them a bit of confidence,” he said. “We’ll definitely play better than that football-wise, but if we continue to battle like that and scrap and do the ugly side of the game, then that’s OK too.

“It is what we asked before the game, do the ugly things. We said that you have to compete, we felt that we could play football but we didn’t mind digging in as well if we needed to.

“We competed really well and that’s deserved points, so credit to everyone.”

Will Forrester took centre stage again on Saturday in what has been a promising run of form for the former Stoke City youngster.

Schumacher believes the 23-year-old is benefitting from the security of playing regular games from the start for Wanderers.

“Will is in good form, he got Player of the Month from the fans, and rightly so, he’s been excellent,” the Bolton boss said. “I had a conversation with him on the first day, and he said: ‘Look, I just need someone to believe in me and give me a run of games.’ And he hasn’t really had that here, he’s felt that he’s always played, and as soon as somebody else was fit and available, he was out.

“So, I said, well, that won’t be the case, if you’re doing the business and you’re playing well, then you play. I’m not bothered who else we’ve got in the squad if he’s performing, and it is what it is, and it would be exactly the same if it was somebody else.

“So, yes, credit to him, and he needs to keep it going.”

Forrester struggled to hold down a regular place in the side under previous boss Ian Evatt, who had regularly cited that he was still short on experience.

“I don’t know the backstory, I don’t know the history,” Schumacher said.

“All I can say is, since we’ve come in the building, he’s been excellent, he really has, and he hsa been on it every day in training, been willing to learn, and we’re helping him.

“Hughesy (Mark Hughes) spent a lot of time last night again with all the centre-backs, the defensive unit, showing him some clips from some of their performances, and he looks like they’re enjoying it.

“It’s good to defend sometimes, and it’ll be hard to play against, and we know they’re decent footballers, but sometimes they have to show their quality defensively, and they’re all doing that, so it needs to continue.”