Neil Lennon wants maximum points against Sheffield Wednesday

While the Whites have lost just one of their last 11 outings, one point from their last two league matches has the Bolton boss wanting a response from his players ahead of Saturday’s visit to Hillsborough.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, the Northern Irishman stressed how important it was for his side to pick up maximum points again as soon as possible in what he believes could be a season-defining month.

We’ve hit a bit of a buffer at the moment with the defeat at Huddersfield and then the draw at the weekend,” said Lennon. “It’ll be good to get back to winning ways and start looking up the table again. 

“January is always an opportunity to make yourself better as the season goes on so that is what we are out to do, and hopefully we can kick on from there. 

“We’re 11 points off the play-offs but seven points off relegation, so you have to be mindful of that.

“There is plenty of football left and a lot of points left to be won, so there is still a big opportunity there to put a run together and climb the table.” 

Despite his concern at recent dropped points, the Trotters manager was quick to praise his squad as he reported no new injury concerns, having already seen his options limited in recent weeks.

“Injury-wise it is as you were from last weekend,” he said. “The players who have played for me in this run have been fantastic. 

“We feel we’re in a decent place playing-wise but we just a lack a bit of creativity at the minute. We brought Zach in who had a fantastic debut but then we lost him for however long it will be.

“Chungy would make a big difference obviously – I think he is the best player in the division, and there is no doubt that Mark Davies and Max Clayton would make us better on the day.   

“Despite this consistency is good, we just need to give the boys we have available a hand now.”

Lennon also warned his side to neither get distracted by their upcoming FA Cup tie with Liverpool or to under-estimate Saturday’s opponents Sheffield Wednesday, with the Owls coming into the fixture having won their last three league matches without conceding a goal. 

He concluded: “Sheffield Wednesday are a hard-working, functional team and are playing very well. Stuart’s done a great job there and there is a big improvement on last season. 

“I’ve been really impressed with what he is doing. He’s built a good team and is doing a very good job at a big club with huge potential.

“We’ve got to concentrate on the league. The Liverpool game is a bonus and something we can all look forward to, but we really need to get back to winning ways as soon as we can in the league so that will be the focus.”