THOUGH they went into their lay-off on a low, Wanderers are heading into the next run of games in high spirits and itching to match their performances with deserved points.

The defeat at Blackburn a fortnight ago is out of their system and Phil Parkinson insists the preparation to take on Rotherham this afternoon has been good.

Performances of the standard they have, in the main, produced this season will bring their just desserts – sooner, he hopes, rather than later.

“You’re always hurting after you get beat in a game but I’ve been pleased with the lads’ response over the last couple of weeks and we look forward to getting back into action at Rotherham tomorrow,” he said. “I would have taken our total at this point, without a doubt. The points total overall is good – in recent weeks I don’t think the performances have got the points they probably deserved but we’ve got to rectify that, see why it is and if we can turn it around.

“That’s what we’re looking to do but in the division we’re competing in it’s not a bad return.

“Overall we said we wanted to build on where we were last year and that means establishing ourselves as a Championship team, improving all areas of the club and that’s what we’re trying to do.”

Parkinson welcomes back goalkeeper Ben Alnwick and left-back Andy Taylor for the trip to Rotherham, though new signing Stephen Ireland is not yet in contention for a place. Widemen Sammy Ameobi and Will Buckley, will also sit this one out.

The Whites will come up against a player who struggled to establish himself in Bolton, the Millers’ striker Jamie Proctor, a man Parkinson knows all about.

“Proccy is a good lad, I signed him twice,” added the manager. “He did really well at Bradford but here he found it difficult, he had limited first-team opportunities because the team was doing really well and Gary Madine was in great form. We ended up getting promotion but he could never find a way to break into the team.

“He’s gone away and unfortunately he had a very bad injury but got back fit and he’s done well.

“Let’s hope he doesn’t do well against us but he’s a player we’re aware of, we know about and we’ve got to be ready to deal with him.”