JAY Spearing believes Neil Lennon’s brand of in-your-face football will save Bolton Wanderers’ season.

As one of the chief beneficiaries of the new regime, the in-form skipper is loving life under the former Celtic boss.

Spearing’s campaign has been transformed in the last few weeks, which have seen the Whites win two of Lennon’s first three games in charge.

And the midfielder predicts the same sort of upturn going forward as they head into a spell of three games — against Norwich City, Cardiff City and Wigan Athletic — in eight days.

Spearing said: "When the gaffer came in he said that the first 10 games were nothing to do with him. But he said that we had 36 games left and in some countries that is a whole season.

“He challenged us to make a fresh start — and that is exactly what we have done.

“I wish we had got more points early in the season. But in the last three games we have started as we need to continue. We are ready to kick on now.

“He wants us to get in people’s faces and create chances — and we have done that. The results are there for all to see.”

Lennon has changed little in terms of personnel or formation. But the greater licence to roam in midfield has yielded instant improvement from the likes of Spearing, Chung-Yong Lee and Neil Danns.

Asked about what has changed since Lennon’s arrival, the captain said: “We have been getting a lot of chances in games and causing problems. But it came together against Brentford and the tempo of the game was a lot better. From the start you could tell we wanted to play and get at them.”

Wanderers may need further improvement if they are to continue their progression against two of the Championship’s hot favourites for promotion.

They go to sixth-placed Norwich tomorrow night — and Spearing, fresh from making his 100th appearance for the club, is keen to maintain some momentum.

He said: “We go to Norwich full of confidence. We do not see why we cannot go there, make a name for ourselves and come away with the three points. I hope we can crack on and keep going forward.”

Spearing is only the fourth player in the Whites' camp to play 100 games for the club, joining Chung-Yong, Adam Bogdan and Mark Davies.

Now the 25-year-old hopes by the time his double century comes round he can be playing in the top division once more.

The former Liverpool player said: “I did not realise until someone text me that on Saturday it was my 100th appearance."