Bolton Wanderers striker warns against setting points targets

While fans have speculated on how many wins will realistically be required for Championship football at the Macron next season, the experienced striker says it would be foolhardy for the players to do the same.

In the last decade, Peterborough United, Leicester City, Blackburn Rovers have been relegated from the division with more than 50 points, whereas in 2014 Birmingham City stayed up with 44.

Wilbraham is happier letting the league table take care of itself.

“I honestly don’t look at points totals,” he told The Bolton News. “Every season those stats seem to get proved wrong, so it’s a bit dangerous to try and follow them.

“The lads just go into every game trying to prepare well. If you start looking at other teams you take your mind off the prize.

“If you look after yourself it doesn’t matter what the rest do.

“I think we’re in good form and the rest of the league knows that. We have to keep grinding out results.”

Wanderers welcome Aston Villa to the Macron on Saturday evening with a six-point gap on the bottom three still intact after Tuesday night’s round of fixtures.

Twenty-first placed Barnsley drew a point closer after being held by Norwich at home but defeats for Burton and Reading worked in Wanderers’ favour.

Phil Parkinson has warned against over-confidence and Wilbraham – who opened up his scoring account for the club at Sheffield Wednesday – feels the group are in the right mood to get over the survival line.

“The team has gelled and there’s a good togetherness about it,” he said.

“Even the lads who are being left out are 100 per cent behind the rest, and you don’t get that at every club.

“It’s so important you don’t have the type of characters who sulk when they are left out.”

Wilbraham has had to bide his time this season, chiefly because of the form showed by Gary Madine prior to his January move to Cardiff City.

The 38-year-old has played just 207 minutes of Championship football since signing from Bristol City, a factor which Parkinson claims has hindered his ability to win over the Bolton fans.

His goal on Saturday provided a respite from the criticism which has come his way from sections of the fans. But the striker himself is philosophical when asked about the importance of popularity.

“Keyboard warriors have never bothered me as long as my manager and team-mates are okay,” he said. “When I was 21 at Stockport someone wrote ‘The Rise and Fall of Aaron Wilbraham’ and I remember thinking ‘hang on, I’m 21’.

“I’m 38 now and I am still playing in the Championship, so it has never bothered me.

“I was chatting with Will Buckley about it earlier and I don’t really know why fans would get on their own players’ backs, but it does happen.

“You have to deal with it but as long as you give 100 per cent, don’t shirk a challenge, that’s what I want to see from footballers and I think I have done that for every club I’ve played for.”