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Kevin Davies Says Bolton Wanderers Need Be More Clinical

The skipper knows that Bolton need to have a bit more bite in front of goal in order to close games out. He wants his team to be ruthless and get the goals.

Michael Regan - Getty Images

So far this season, Bolton Wanderers have had a habit of letting the opposing team find its way back into the match, be it through a freak goal or a penalty. The main point is that these opposition goals are coming largely against the run of play and in turn, are putting the Trotters on the back foot for what usually ends up being a large chunk of the match. These symptoms have been worse away from home but games at the Reebok are not without their troubles.

We've seen it a few times now as Bolton have gained the lead and either struggled to maintain it or lost it altogether. The Nottingham Forest (2-2 home draw), Hull City (3-1 away loss), Watford (2-1home win), and Sheffield Wednesday (2-1 away win) matches are the ones that immediately come to mind. The freak goal and the penalty specifically happened in the last two matches, respectively.

Speaking to the Bolton News, captain Kevin Davies admitted once again that the Trotters do need to a) tighten things up and b) finish better in front of goal:

"We should have been out of sight by half-time, the gilt-edged chances we created. We've still got to be a bit more ruthless and clinical to ease the pressure. When you're a goal up and they get a penalty to get back in it, that's the way things have been going, but we responded really well.

"We're pleased - it's not so much relief, it's just that we know what we're capable of doing and we feel we can take that into two big home games now.

"There's been a lot of frustration around especially with our away performances. We feel that performances are gradually getting better and we deserved to win (against Sheffield Wednesday)."

Super Kev also realized that Bolton need to finally start stringing results together:

"The fans were fantastic on Saturday - They always back us. They're frustrated because they know what we can do.

"Maybe it has taken a bit of time to adjust. We've certainly got the quality and there's such competition - we've got the squad, and we're all in it together.

"I feel like I've had this conversation before - we win a game and then we go into one and lose! Hopefully we can go into these two home games and the confidence and belief should be building nicely."

Bolton Wanderers have no mid-week match and will be back in action on Saturday at the Reebok against Crystal Palace before a tough test at home to Leeds United the following Tuesday.