Megson demands improved display

20 February 2009 14:30
Bolton's players have been left in no doubt what Megson expects from them for the remainder of the season after their woeful 3-0 defeat to Everton almost a fortnight ago.[LNB]Megson publicly criticised the performance after the game and the squad were certainly not let off lightly when they returned to training the following week.[LNB]The manager expects a response against the Hammers this weekend and is confident he will get one.[LNB]"We spoke about it because it was a non-event and we can't do that - I don't believe any club can," he said.[LNB]"There are some [teams] that can maybe not fire on all cylinders and yet have still that quality and a player in the team who can beat one or two and get a result.[LNB]"But we need to be at full tilt every time we play and when we are not it has caused us to have two awful performances this season - at Fulham and Everton.[LNB]"We know the stats from the game and we had a couple of players who were 50 per cent down on what they were in the first half of the season.[LNB]"It is not rocket science from that point of view but it needed to be spoken about and it has been spoken about.[LNB]"What we need to do now is use that to try to make sure it does not happen again.[LNB]"They are all good people and they say the right things but they knew it was a disappointment and not to expect five days off the week after, and they didn't get five days off.[LNB]"They worked and they worked hard. They knew what was coming because when things are going well you can behave a bit differently to when things are not and you can't reward that kind of performance."[LNB]Saturday's match is the first of three home games in four fixtures with Newcastle and Fulham also due to travel to the Reebok Stadium.[LNB]And Megson is keen to make the most of home advantage to help the team move up from 14th in the Premier League.[LNB]"Whatever happens to ourselves I'm sure will be dictated by how well we do at home," he added.[LNB]"We have a fantastic opportunity with the home games we have got to have a good finish to the season but we need everyone giving it everything we have got.[LNB]"We need the players bang at it, we need a fit squad and we need to put in performances that get the supporters involved.[LNB]"We have all the advantages at home. If we can get the Reebok to be a really difficult place to come then that on its own will be good enough for us.[LNB]"Our home record is nowhere near as good as we would like but we have played Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Everton at home.[LNB]"By virtue of that we have some of the clubs who are around the same position as us in the league who have to come here, and we have to make sure we get results against them."[LNB]On Saturday, Megson is boosted by the return from injury of striker Johan Elmander, midfielders Gavin McCann and Tamir Cohen and defender Nicky Hunt.[LNB][LNB] Bolton v West Ham. Click here to bet.[LNB] 

Source: Team_Talk