WANDERERS’ league season will only be three games old this evening, but Phil Parkinson is determined his side will return from Reading a top-six team.

Four points from the first two games leaves them seventh in the table this morning, and the Whites can climb even higher with a result at the club Parkinson served with distinction for 11 years.

And, even at this stage, the manager is keen for his side to lay down a marker with another good away performance, as well as giving themselves a handy boost ahead of back-to-back home matches against Birmingham City and Sheffield United.

“Our job is to continue our start and see if we can go into these two home games in the top six,” he told The Bolton News.

“People always say about the league table it doesn’t mean anything yet but to come out and get a result and go into the week sat in the top six is something we’ve got to aim for and that’s something we intend to do at Reading.

“The first win was really important for us at West Brom but we want to build on that, I think that’s really important.

“We can pat ourselves on the back and say we’ve got four points from six but now we have to build on it.

“The opportunity is there for us to set ourselves up for two terrific games at home, we’ve got to be ready to work as hard as we did at West Brom.

“That’s what we’ll be emphasising to the players, that getting a result at Reading could get us into the top six going into two great games and if we do that I’m sure the crowd will be right up for it against Birmingham on Wednesday.”

A high tempo and work rate were key to their unbeaten Championship start against West Brom and Bristol City and Parkinson is adamant his players must continue that if they are to remain in the upper reaches of the division.

“Everyone knows in the Championship the intensity levels have got to be right,” he added. “You can’t win a game at 80 per cent.

“So, first and foremost, we’ve got to go down there with the aim of getting back on the coach and looking at the league table on the way back in that top six.

“Obviously the table takes a while to pan out but psychologically for us to go back with another away result to lead us into two home games would be great.”