There is no way of dressing up last night’s performance other than to say it was very disappointing. The players will be left in no doubt that the display wasn’t up to the standards we set ourselves recently.
In recent matches lapses in concentration have cost us dearly and we need to get back to the levels of dedication and total commitment we had a few weeks ago.
The Bolton Family have really played their part in turning up in numbers and showing your passionate support, especially at Leeds United and also in front of our biggest home crowd of the season.
In light of this, the defeat against Birmingham was all the more galling as you all did your utmost to lift the team.
As I keep repeating, there will be many more twists and turns before the final game of the season against Nottingham Forest and, having looked at the fixtures of everyone around us, I still remain confident that despite our terrible start to the season, our destiny is still in our own hands.
On the back of these two defeats, l feel sure that the management team will look long and hard at our recent performances and maybe think it is time for change and select a team that are more than capable of going to Derby County on Saturday and getting a result.
Obviously it’s a tough game and with all the top ten teams still challenging for play-off places, there will be no let-up so we need to grind out match-winning performances as we did away to Sheffield United and at home to Bristol City and Aston Villa. That is the level of commitment now required.
As l have said previously the majority of our squad are playing for new contracts and evidently it is financially more rewarding for everyone concerned that we ensure we retain our Sky Bet Championship status.
As they say, we are now at the business end of the season and it’s imperative that the squad as a whole gives 120% in every game for the full game, not just in patches, and unfortunately this has not been the case for several players recently.
These players all know who they are and they need to step up their performance if they want to stay with us next season.
We now have six games remaining – six cup finals – and it is crucial that you all stay with us – home and away - and maintain that fantastic level of support you have shown us in recent games.
We’ve got to put those bad results firmly behind us and remember that our future remains in our own control.
Games are coming thick and fast and after our trip to Derby on Saturday, we are back at Macron Stadium on Tuesday for the game against Millwall.
I hope to see as many of you there as possible and hopefully the players can reward you for your wonderful support.
Kind regards,
Ken