KEITH Hill has asked Wanderers fans to stand by their club in its hour of need.

After successive defeats against Coventry City and Doncaster Rovers, a tough week does not get any easier for the Whites with the visit of another promotion-chasing side in Wycombe this afternoon.

Hill recognises his team has a responsibility to cut out the individual errors which put such a glum slant on the previous two results – but the Bolton boss hopes supporters will continue to back the players.

Asked if Wanderers fans were experiencing a test of faith, he told The Bolton News: “I don’t think I agree. They (the fans) are seeing a better team beat us. People who play the game understand.

“It was difficult Tuesday picking ourselves up, having conceded just before half time.

“We are conceding in the red zones of games – first five against Coventry, last five against Coventry, we conceded just before half time and just after half time against Doncaster. But it’s like anything – if your marriage is struggling slightly what do you do? Give up?

“I’ve been married 29 years and I know for sure that you shouldn’t give up and see if there’s something you can salvage from the situation then move on together.

“That’s what I expect everyone to do.

“I don’t think Bolton’s future is about this season, but the response of everyone united together could stand us in good stead going into next season.”

Wanderers are now 18 points off safety with 16 games to play and hopes of avoiding relegation have dipped considerably over the last seven days. Hill’s hope won’t waver, but when asked if his team may actually welcome the moment their fate is secured this season, he added: “I have never been relegated, so I don’t know.

“Miracles do happen. You have to believe in them and take positive action.

“We will only know (whether it releases pressure) when we have either survived or been relegated. We’ll see what sort of response to respect.

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“I think sometimes you can get a positive bounce because there’s no pressure. You have got to do your best to try and relax or the pressure becomes unmanageable.

“I have never seen this as a pressure situation. When I wanted the job there was a realisation that this was potentially a relegation season, and that hasn’t changed. The impossible dream is still alive but we have to win 12 games out of 16, and everyone is sat in here saying ‘that’s impossible’ but it isn’t. It might take one click.

“But to get to the point where we are beating the Coventrys and the Doncasters of this world, we as a team have to make fewer individual mistakes or we’ll be beaten 2-1 every week.”