Fireside Chats: Positive quotes post-Barnsley edition

It really should have been all three points for Bolton Wanderers. Between easy shots right at the goalkeeper and him making some good saves, Bolton were only able to put one of their ten shots on target into the back of the net. However, in Dougie Freedman's short tenure as manager of Bolton Wanderers, the Trotters are undefeated. That said, from four games, Bolton have only won once.

Speaking after the Barnsley match, Dougie wasn't happy with the result but took the positives from the affair without sugar-coating it like Owen Coyle so often did:

"I was happy with the performance. I thought we created a lot of opportunities and on another day we will take them.

"I was disappointed with the equalising goal we conceded but the response after that was good. There was a grandstand finish and we gave it everything we had, but it just wasn't to be.

"The crowd were behind us and they could see the energy and desire that the players had. They could see what we are trying to do - we passed our way through Barnsley at times and the fans stuck with us.

"Right now, we are fighting hard. The Championship does throw up hard matches every week but I felt that we stuck at it. We performed really well and created opportunities to win the game, but we just couldn't take them.

"All-in-all, I was pleased with the performance but disappointed with the result."

Dougie was, however, enamored with the one and only Super Kevin Davies. The captain was recalled to the starting lineup after sitting the vast majority of the Blackpool match on the bench. Davies' start was his 601st career competitive appearance and he marked the occasion with a very good goal.

"I thought Kevin Davies was fantastic today and I said that in the dressing room. Any player that wants to see know how to play centre-forward needs to watch the video of today's game.

"He was outstanding in his play and all-round game. His performance was top-drawer and long may that continue."

Chris Eagles also shared some thoughts after the largely disappointing result. Even though there were some good signs from Bolton, the winger, who still leads Bolton in goals scored with six, knows that the final results have to improve:

"I believe we played the best we have under the new manager. It is a long season.

"It is a positive that we're still unbeaten. That is how we've got to look at our results. Everybody is going to have a different view.

"We have to look at it that we are still unbeaten again and every point counts.

"I don't look at the table. Everyone else out there does, but I don't until the end of the season when you really know what is going on. The main thing now is to put a bit of a run together and for us to get a win, but draws count.

"On a personal level the manager has not just come in and managed a bunch of players. He knows people and knows how they work. It makes you feel more special about yourself and that is a massive plus.

"It is only improving my game because now not only attacking, but defending, which a lot of people have said I can't do."