Megson demands response

20 April 2009 11:34
Gary Megson has urged his Bolton players to bounce back from Saturday's defeat to Portsmouth with an improved performance. Megson admitted the Trotters were almost safe following the recent 4-1 victory over Middlesbrough, but they have since suffered back-to-back losses. Bolton gave Chelsea a major scare before going down 4-3 at Stamford Bridge but there was less cause for encouragement in the 1-0 reverse against Pompey. The Trotters still have a six-point cushion above the relegation zone and Megson expects his men to secure their survival with some more positive displays. "We are not in the bottom three at the moment and we have to make sure we don't get into that position," he told the Bolton News. "We are not out of the woods yet but I think we will be all right if we play as we can do. We need the right response from everyone at the club. Quality "I was disappointed with the way we performed at Portsmouth. I don't think too many players played like I expected them too. "In the second half at Chelsea they played with enthusiasm, desire and a certain amount of anger because of the game's situation, but we didn't get anywhere near that. "We didn't set out to be defensive, we set out to be solid and then push forward, but we didn't have enough of the ball. Both sides were nervy and we didn't see the quality you expect in the Premier League." The crucial goal arrived when Kanu bundled home Nadir Belhadj's corner and Megson admits it was a poor way to concede. He said: "It was pathetic defending. We have someone in there whose job it is to make sure that doesn't happen. A cross from that angle should not end up in the back of the net."

Source: SKY_Sports