Sam Calls For Return To Form

Last updated : 16 December 2004 By Mark Heys

Sam Allardyce has said that Wanderers need to get back to basics if they are to get through a barren spell of form which has seen them take just two league points out of a possible eighteen.

The Bolton boss has already hinted that he will make defensive changes for the derby match with Manchester City at the weekend, and this could include recalls for forgotten men Julio Cesar and Anthony Barness.

Allardyce feels that his side are suffering from a lack of confidence, so a positive result on Saturday against Kevin Keegan's team will lay the foundations that Bolton will need to get their season back on track.

"It's knocking the confidence, knocking the belief a little bit and we're starting to wonder where the next win is coming from or, more importantly, where the next clean sheet is coming from," the manager told the Bolton Evening News.

"We're looking easy fodder for the opposition because they are saying that, even if we score, weíll always let them have one. Quite simply, we want to get back to what we know we can be,"

"Big Sam" says that Premiership high fliers Everton are the example to follow in terms of resilience and says his side need to follow their example if they are to get back on track.

"I want to be taking what Everton are doing in terms of being resilient and put it into our game. That's what ís lacking at the moment."