GARY Megson assured his happy Wanderers last night that they will be playing Premier League football next season, if they show the same spirit and commitment that got them out of the bottom three.
Successive 1-0 wins over West Ham and Middlesbrough have given the Whites a fighting chance, just when they seemed destined for the drop. Another three-point haul at Tottenham today would pile even more pressure on relegation rivals Reading and Birmingham.
It's so close at the foot of the table that, regardless of what happens today, they will still need points from their final two games - Sunderland at home next Saturday and away to Chelsea on the last day of the season - but Megson is confident they have what it takes to survive.
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Nevertheless, he has delivered a stark warning of the consequences of letting their standards slip.
Praising his players for responding impressively to the morale-shattering 4-0 defeat at Aston Villa three weeks ago, he said: "If we keep doing what we are doing - clean sheets - then yes; if we keep approaching games as we have been approaching them, we can get the results.
"We've shown that in the past.
"All we're looking at is these next three games, and, if we can go about them as we did in the last two, as opposed to the Villa game, we've got every chance."
Successive 1-0 wins have boosted morale considerably in the Reebok camp and they left for London yesterday determined to maintain the feelgood factor at White Hart Lane.
"Momentum in football is a big thing," Megson said.
"I don't know if you can suggest you've got momentum if you've had two good results in eight days, but it does enable you to get three and then you do find you've got a momentum building.
"But, given the situation we were in before we played West Ham, the players have reacted really well to that and played some decent stuff.
"What worried me a little bit last week was the first 15 or 20 minutes we were really poor and thankful for the goalkeeper doing well. We've got to make sure we don't do that again."
Megson has warned of more twists and turns before the season is over, but is relieved to still be in with a shout.
"It's shifting sands," he admitted. "You come in with whatever result you get then look at everybody else.
"We've just got to get as many points as we possibly can. But we're not an exclusive club in that respect."
Posted by: Bolton Blogger, Bolt on 8:42am Sat 26 Apr 08
[quote][bold]yonmons[/bold] wrote:
You still tipping Brum to avoid the drop Megson ? Classic last line "We`ve just got to get as many points as we possibly can." [/quote] Mind - games!!!!!
Love it - just a pity no one, not even other Football manager, ever takes Megson serious!!!
Megson - definition in the new edition of the OED - means clown, fool, loser!
yonmons wrote:
You still tipping Brum to avoid the drop Megson ? Classic last line "We`ve just got to get as many points as we possibly can."
Mind - games!!!!!
Love it - just a pity no one, not even other Football manager, ever takes Megson serious!!!
Megson - definition in the new edition of the OED - means clown, fool, loser!
Posted by: matty_c, Bolton on 1:26pm Sat 26 Apr 08
does megson ever actually think about what he says one minute he's backing reading and birmingham to stay up next he's saying we will make up your mind for feck sake
does megson ever actually think about what he says one minute he's backing reading and birmingham to stay up next he's saying we will make up your mind for feck sake
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