PHIL Parkinson has not written off his side’s chances of catching leaders Sheffield United and lifting the League One title.

Wanderers took another big step in the right direction towards promotion with a 2-0 win at Shrewsbury Town on Saturday, opening up a six-point gap on third-placed Fleetwood Town with seven games remaining.

They also clawed in a couple of points on the Blades, who drew 1-1 at Oldham, and though Parkinson refuses to look beyond his next game, at home to Chesterfield, he admits to not simply looking over his shoulder.

“We’ll look above us and also behind us,” he told The Bolton News. “I did think that Sheffield United going to Oldham, with that terrible pitch, would be a difficult game for them.

“It’s all about adapting to the conditions, so that result is good for us.

“But nobody here is getting carried away and making predictions about who finishes where. For us, it’s about regrouping, getting the training schedule right, looking at our next opponents and getting the lads who need a rest, to rest.

“We take care of all that and the results will come.”

Sheffield United are now four points ahead of Wanderers and will host Millwall at Bramall Lane on Tuesday night.

Wanderers have a clear week and a chance to patch up a squad which was decimated further at the Greenhous Meadow.

Ben Alnwick look set to miss the rest of the season with knee ligament damage, while there are also major concerns over Andy Taylor, who has injured his calf. Gary Madine also limped off in the first half after tweaking his groin.

“Andrew and Ben looks more serious,” the manager said. “I think we got Gaz off before he made the injury any worse.

“When you are running games back to back and putting in such effort then you’ll always run a risk of picking up injuries.

“That is why I didn’t start Spearo (Jay Spearing), because I was a little bit concerned, and Darren Pratley was a 50-50 call right up to the morning. Once again he was incredible.

“So, yes, we’ve picked up a few injuries but we’ll patch the players up and go on to next weekend.”