WANDERERS’ slow march towards relegation continued at Derby County as a Mason Mount hat-trick condemned Phil Parkinson’s side to a record-equalling 26th defeat of the season.

Craig Bryson set the ball rolling for the play-off chasing Rams after a fairly even start to the game – but Mount’s strike on the stroke of half-time destroyed any hope Bolton had of getting back into it.

Wanderers are not yet mathematically relegated but are now nine points from safety with only four games to play. Should Wigan Athletic beat Norwich City tomorrow lunchtime, the drop would be confirmed with another defeat against Aston Villa on Good Friday.

After another week of problems off the pitch, Parkinson admitted his team had not been sufficiently switched on to cope with Derby’s quick passing game around the penalty box.

“We have been beaten by a good team today,” he said.

“We started alright in the game but when the ball has gone around the edge of the box, not staying with runners has proved costly today.

“If you give players like Mason Mount opportunities, he’s going to take them.

“It’s the little details and staying with your runner and the short-corner at the end really summed it up for us. You have to go all the way with your runner or else you’ll give them chances – and that is what proved our undoing.”

Parkinson has not been given any update by owner Ken Anderson on efforts to sell the club, nor the future of himself or the coaching staff beyond the end of this season.

“I can only say what I have been saying for months and months, and that’s that we are hoping for a solution to the problem,” he said. “We continue to wait for some good news.”

Parkinson picked his side based on players he felt were prepared to play after a difficult week off the pitch.

Wages for March have still not been paid and there have been no cast-iron guarantees from Anderson as to when the situation will be rectified.

“I can only really talk about today’s team selection and the players I thought were physically and mentally in the right place to play,” he said.

“Some had played Tuesday, some needed a break, so I tried to change a few things around and pick a team from players I felt were engaged with the job at hand.”