IF Johan Elmander was Brazilian or playing for one of the top-four clubs, we would be seeing action replays of the goal he scored at Molineux for weeks or even months to come.

His footwork was breathtaking and his finish had all the hallmarks of a confident player at the top of his game – a genuine contender for goal of the season.

But he only plays for “Little Old Bolton” so it will probably be passed over.

I’m not being wise after the event, because I have been saying all along that we have not seen the best of Johan because he looked like a player who only needed his confidence massaging.

The striker has never shirked and has always worked his socks off – even when he was getting stick – but you could see he wasn’t entirely happy with his lot and he has come out now and said he didn’t enjoy the training under the previous manager.

Now he is playing like a man who has belief in himself and I think that sums up the way things have improved for the team and the club as a whole.

I predicted the mood would change when Owen Coyle arrived and I’m pleased to say I have been proved right.

They’ve gone out and worked harder with more purpose and in a style that has finally started winning their critics over – as we saw from our friends on Match Of The Day on Saturday when they were purring over the way they played instead of criticising Bolton for their long-ball approach.

In fact, it was because of the way it was crafted – a seven-pass move – that I was just as pleased with the goal Stuart Holden scored as much as Johan’s.

Chung-Yong Lee did superbly well with his cut-back and Stuart’s finish was clinical. The boy’s been covering every blade of grass in midfield and his first goal was a long overdue reward.

I know Owen would not have been at all happy with the two goals we conceded late on, which led to a few anxious moments before the final whistle sounded, but no one can say the three points weren’t deserved and fifth in the Premier League table is as healthy a position as anyone could have imagined at this stage in the season.

And don’t let anybody try and tell you they are there by luck. They are reaping the rewards for their hard graft. Take Matty Taylor for example. I spoke to him earlier in the season and he was obviously disappointed at not being in the team, but I told him to keep his head down, keep working hard and be ready to take his chance when it came.

And that’s just what he has done. He got back in the side when Martin Petrov was injured and he’s done the business. Now it’s Martin’s turn to knuckle down and try to win his place back. That’s healthy competition which every squad needs.

The key factor that has made all the difference, though, is the environment is much happier and every player wants to play for the manager and his staff.

And that should never be underestimated.

Owen’s the main man, of course, but the people behind him – Sandy Stewart, Steve Davis, Phil Hughes and John Henry – are all top blokes as well as being one big happy family.

I’m still learning the coaching ropes but if I have a problem I can go to any one of them and get advice, any time I need it.

That’s the way things are at the Reebok at the moment – and long may it continue.