RANDELL Williams is delighted to see Wanderers answering back to claims that they struggle to handle physical opposition.

Ian Evatt’s side has often been accused of failing to find a way through teams who attempt to disrupt their possession-based style but recent outings against Port Vale and Stevenage have helped to mount a case in their defence.

Williams expects another thorough examination on Saturday when they face promoted Carlisle United and he hopes once again to see Bolton’s grittier side come to the fore.

“It is a different way – but we knew what type of games they would be, and it is the same for Carlisle coming up, they are not going to just stand back and let us play,” he said. “The boys are more than capable, they are showing that now, and it is all we can do from our end. We’ll let you guys (the press) deal with the rest of it.

“Credit to the boys. I think Tuesday was a game we would have lost last year, so whether it is physical or technical, getting it over the line is the most important thing, and we did.

“Three points are three points, it doesn’t really matter how you get them. The boys are delighted either way.

“Of course, we’d rather do it our way but sometimes the game just doesn’t allow you. Sometimes you have to give some credit to the opposition and Stevenage definitely made us dig deep.”

Williams is also making a few folk eat their words after a tough start to life at Bolton last season.

Plunged immediately into action after signing from Hull City in January, he had to gain match fitness and consistency on the job, without a full pre-season.

Now feeling that his feet are fully under the table, the wing-back reckons his true worth is starting to show.

“Everyone knows I didn’t play that much last season and there is always a spell where you have to settle at a new club, some more than others,” he told The Bolton News.

“I had a long spell out with an injury, so I had to find my feet and fitness was a part of that, but pre-season has been really big for me, I have started to understand more what the manager wants from me, and I’m understanding the players I’m playing with as well, so I need that to continue.”

Wanderers are four points behind Oxford United at start of play – with the U’s set to play Joey Barton’s Bristol Rovers on Saturday lunchtime.

By kick-off the Whites will know whether they can pull themselves to within a point of the automatic promotion spots and leave the league table looking good during the international break.

He added: “It has been a good start to the season, we’re third now and hopefully with another three points we will push closer to the top two. We just have to go out there, put a result in and then hopefully we will be in a good place.”