KIERAN Lee reckons Wanderers must start taking more responsibility for their wastefulness in front of goal – starting with this weekend’s game against Wigan Athletic.

The in-form midfielder counted himself among the players who missed gilt-edged opportunities in the weekend defeat at his former club Sheffield Wednesday.

According to Opta Stats, only Rotherham United have had more shots on goal than Bolton this season, and their xG from open play is third in League One, behind Oxford United and Sunderland.

Despite all the plaudits for Wanderers’ style of play, Lee admits too many points have escaped their grip because of a lack of ruthlessness in front of goal.

“I don’t feel like there has been a game where anyone has been better than us but we are disappointed with a few of the results,” he said, ahead of the Latics’ visit on Saturday.

“We’d like to be higher in the table but we just have to keep going.

“I think you can see where the problem is at the moment, we’re not taking the chances. And they are good ones, too, not half-chances.

“It is tough to take but we just have to get on with it.”

Lee has played himself into good form after missing chunks of pre-season through injury and starting the campaign behind Josh Sheehan in the midfield pecking order.

The 33-year-old is feeling confident after starting the last three league games but he is also backing Wales international Sheehan to fight his way back into the reckoning in the coming weeks.

“At the start of the season I was coming on now and again, getting a few minutes, but now I have had a little run in the team, got a bit of confidence,” he said. “I feel like I am doing quite well.

“Every player is like that. It is harder coming in and then going out again. And I know there is a lot of competition in this midfield. Josh has been unlucky not to play at the minute.

“I just want to carry on playing and we’re all good friends. We’ve been in football long enough so we know we’ll all get the opportunity.”

 

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