Bouncebackability Needed For City Trip

Last updated : 28 February 2005 By Mark Heys
Sam Allardyce has urged his players to bounce back from yesterday's defeat at Newcastle United, and focus on next week's trip to local rivals Manchester City at The City of Manchester Stadium.

Allardyce saw his team relinquish their unbeaten start to 2005 at St James Park to end what was a run of 10 straight games without defeat, but rather than dwell on the shortcomings at Newcastle the Bolton manager is now looking to getting the side back on track for the short journey to Manchester next Monday evening.


"We've got to bounce back from this defeat and start at Manchester City. Sadly, it's not until next Monday. We could have done with that being a bit quicker. It's going to be a long week now that we have lost that run but it's something that will give us time to work on the strengths and weakness from Sunday."

Bolton have not won away at City since April 1997 and have recorded only one Premiership victory over their local rivals - this coming in April 2003 thanks to goals from boyhood City supporter Henrik Pedersen and a header from Ivan Campo.