FRUSTRATIONS have bubbled to the surface during Wanderers’ winless start to the season – and Antoni Sarcevic knows there is only one way to solve it.

The Bolton captain found himself caught in the crossfire on social media this weekend as disgruntled supporters voiced their disapproval at the 1-0 home defeat to Forest Green.

New signing Sarcevic says he can understand the widespread disappointment, which put a dent in what had been an upbeat summer under new boss Ian Evatt.

And though things have not gone according to Evatt’s script thus far, the midfielder insists there will be no sulking in the camp in what is a free week on the training ground in preparation for a visit to Colchester United.

“It is frustrating, and I know it’s clichéd and we don’t want to keep saying the same things, but it’s only the first game,” he said.

“We have to dust ourselves down a bit now and make sure this is a good week. We’re not in the cup anymore, so there’s more time to focus on Colchester and make sure we put it right.

“With the way the fixtures are crammed in this season you won’t have many full weeks, so we have to make sure we right the wrongs of Saturday and make sure we’re feeling better about that performance.”

Much has been made of the post-game criticism aimed at Sarcevic and other first teamers at the weekend – and Evatt’s comments on the “ingrained” losing mentality circulating at the club.

It has all been played down within the camp, however, with Sarcevic and other senior figures expected to urge concentration and focus on this weekend’s fixture, rather than over-analysis of the last.

Getting a foothold in Saturday’s game is now looking increasingly important, something the Bolton skipper believes would have considerably changed the outlook against Forest Green.

“If we take the chances first-half it’s a winning game,” he said, referring to opportunities for himself, Reiss Greenidge and Eoin Doyle.

“It’s all cat and mouse with football – if he scores, then you go and win the game. That’s my personal view and it might be for those looking in but it didn’t happen and as a group we have got to react. We have to take those chances and punish teams so we can kick on in the league.

“I don’t think we can use the word ‘struggle’ for how we have been so far. But if that’s how people want to see it then we need to start putting it right.”

Playing in an empty University of Bolton Stadium also seems to have taken an edge off Bolton, who have played hosts in each of their first three games.

This weekend sees their first trip as an away team in League Two and Sarcevic is aware the players have to find their own motivation.

“Fans are our fans – they want to pick you up and get you going again if you are losing,” he said. “We haven’t had that and let’s be honest we don’t know when we are going to get it again. It should be about what we do on the pitch.

“Everyone is saying the same sort of thing, the crowds make football. And I think if they were there (on Saturday), it could have got another 10-15 per cent out of us.

“That is not to make it an excuse. As players we have to make sure we’re fully ready for the game and whatever gets thrown at us.

“They will be a massive help when they come back in but we’re the ones who have to do the job.”