THE chase has been worth it for Sam Dalby over the last few weeks – and he hopes that can be the case for Wanderers’ season in May.
Steven Schumacher’s summer signing has worked hard for the cause since winning a regular starting spot in the side last month.
His goal return had been slow up to Tuesday night’s win against Burton Albion, however, where the second of his brace in stoppage time sealed another important three points.
Dalby’s best centre-forward play has brought some favourable comparisons to the club’s great number nines of the past, and the 26-year-old has always made a point that his hard work will not fade, even in the tougher times.
“I’ll work hard no matter what,” he told The Bolton News. “That’s one thing I can promise. I won’t give less than 100 per cent on the pitch.
“I suppose as a striker the goals are what you really need, so when you have been running about for 90 minutes it’s nice when one lands right on your feet straight in front of goal.
“Mason (Burstow) will say the same thing, it’s whatever helps us get three points at the end of the day. That is what’s really important.”
Late goals have become the norm for Bolton and Dalby’s second against Burton was the club’s ninth in stoppage time this season.
Everyone has their theories on why that is the case but the striker believes it has more to do with the team ethic which has been galvanised during a tough January run.
“We know when the fourth official’s board goes up there’s still a chance,” he said. “And we know that because of how many times it has happened.
“We have got a lot of big characters that will push you through those tough times, and we've got a strong squad with fresh legs coming off the bench.
“So, I think it always plays into our hands when we need to go and get that winner.”
Schumacher has described this stage of the campaign as ‘The Grind’ and as the players board the team bus for London for their ninth game of the month knowing their hosts had their midweek fixture postponed, at least one of the party will be glad of the journey.
“I suppose getting back to one game a week might be nicer on the legs,” he said. “But to be honest, at the minute we are winning games so I’d play two a week for the rest of the season.
“It is always nice, especially for me at the minute, just on a personal level, to try and build my fitness up as much as possible.
“And I feel like I'm in great shape. I just want to play games, stay in the zone, which is so important for strikers. I think getting into that rhythm of playing is so important. And, yeah, I feel like I'm in that now.
“Hopefully we can get prepared for Wimbledon and keep this run going because I think if we can stay in this mood, we can be a hard team to stop.”
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