FORMER Wanderer Peter Reid believes the loan signing of England Under-21 defender Craig Dawson has been the spark for the team’s turnaround in fortunes in the past six weeks.

The West Brom youngster has played eight games since arriving for a three-month spell back in his natve Lancashire and Wanderers have not lost one of those matches, winning six.

And Reid, who spent eight years with the Whites between 1974 and 1982, says that is no coincidence.

He told The Bolton News: “The Dawson boy coming in on loan has been a fantastic one.

“They were conceding too many but his partnership with Zat Knight has looked a decent one.

“They are on a great run.

“I spoke to someone who went to Saturday’s game and they said that Brighton played well.

“But it is all about winning and Dougie Freedman has got the team going.”

As a player who got his break at Wanderers and went on to make more than 200 league appearances, Reid hopes his old side can keep their good run going in the final nine games of the Championship campaign.

As someone who has managed at that level, however, he knows how tough it is to get back up into the Premier League.

He added: “It would be fantastic if they can keep on winning.

“It is going to be difficult because Forest are on a role as well.

“But they have given themselves a great chance.

“They have momentum at the right time.

“It is a great football club and I always look for their results because it was the first club that gave me a chance.

“It would be fantastic if they could make the play-offs.”