Heading into a big derby against local rivals Wigan Athletic in a couple of hours you’d fancy the Bolton Wanderers players, and fans for that matter, would be right up for it.
But the Chairman’s inability to pay his players yesterday means you could forgive them for not really being that fussed, and off-field matters and the team’s woeful form on the pitch combined mean us fans also have our own reasons for not being too bothered.
But then again, it’s a big game against Wigan. And one that we realistically have to win. So there’s at least a little cause for excitement.
Wanderers go into today’s game with just two points from the last nine matches and without a win since 29 September. We’ve also managed to score one goal in our last six fixtures, and just three goals in the last 12 matches. It’s a truly shocking run of form.
But if you wanted a little cause for optimism then Wigan coming to town might be it. Bolton are undefeated in their last four games against Wigan, and have won four of the last eight, only losing two of the last 14 meetings between the sides in the last decade.
However, Wigan will be on a high from picking up all three points in another Lancashire derby as they defeated Blackburn Rovers 3-1 in midweek. Although prior to that they’d won just one of their last seven matches.
You’d hope Phil Parkinson might take a more attacking approach to today’s game and, personally hoping, play Christian Doidge ahead of the ridiculously goal-shy Clayton Donaldson - who has now gone a staggering 28 matches without scoring.
Join us at 3pm today for live commentary on the website and over on Twitter.