Neil Lennon is looking forward to getting back to home comforts as his Bolton Wanderers side face league leaders Brighton and Hove Albion at the Macron Stadium on Saturday.
Wanderers already lie 13 points behind a side they finished four points ahead of last season, but Lennon was bullish when considering his side’s chances of inflicting a first defeat on Albion.
Despite the setback of that awful 4-1 defeat to Huddersfield Town last week, Bolton’s home form remains strong, having not lost a league game at the Macron since the final weekend of last season.
“It’s a great game to get our teeth into. It’s a test of character now, of bouncing back.
“We’re playing the team that are top of the league. They’ve started well, and are going to be confident.
“At home, we look a very good side, and away from home we’ve struggled for some reason to get the results that we want, so that’s something that we’re always trying to analyse and study and see how we can change that mentality because our home form is very good.”
With his side having scored just four goals in the league – the joint-lowest in the Football League – and Emile Heskey set to miss out through injury, the Bolton boss was keen to issue a vote of confidence to the much-maligned Gary Madine, who is so far yet to find the net since his summer move from Sheffield Wednesday.
Lennon is hoping to tie up a three-month loan move for Charlton striker Igor Vetokele in time for tomorrow’s match, but knows that if that does not come to fruition, he needs 25-year-old Madine to find his form.
“We still think he’s a good player, he’s just lacking a little bit of confidence at the minute, and that’s understandable.
“He’s worked hard this week – again he may start the game, and if he does, he’ll have our full support.
“Hopefully it’ll all change [once he gets a goal], but just leading the line, that’s what we want him to do, bring other people into the game, get around the pitch.
“His level of performance has just tailed off a little bit, but I think that’s psychological more than anything else.
“[Vetokele] had a really good half of the season last year, he’s pacey, he’s quite good in the air, and he’s a good finisher once he’s in there.
“He’s a player who I think if he does come, will make us better.”
Image courtesy of Bolton Wanderers FC via YouTube, with thanks.
