Steinsson: These are massive games

21 December 2009 08:08
Wanderers play at Wigan on Monday night followed by a trip to Burnley on Boxing Day and then Hull at home on December 28.[LNB]Those three matches against sides all close to 17th-placed Bolton could have a defining effect on how Gary Megson's side start the second half of the season.[LNB]"We need these points really badly over Christmas so we are really going for it," said Steinsson.[LNB]"These are winnable games against teams around us. They are massive games for the fans, including two local derbies.[LNB]"If you get the momentum and go from there anything is possible - but you can't look so far ahead.[LNB]"We have to go to Wigan, get the points and then get ready for Burnley.[LNB]"We have been in the bottom three before so we know what it's all about. We will just get our heads down and go for it.[LNB]"We are a great team and a great bunch of lads and we should be higher."[LNB]Megson does not view the festive period differently to any other stage of the season but does feel his side will carry some momentum into the busy spell of matches.[LNB]Bolton drew 3-3 at home to Manchester City last weekend - having taken the lead three times - and then beat West Ham 3-1 in midweek.[LNB]"I don't think we have been particularly off track," said the Bolton boss.[LNB]"We've been a bit up and down as everyone has but in terms of the way we have played and the performances we have put in, I don't think we've been really off track.[LNB]"There have been some poor results but other people have had those.[LNB]"The performance against West Ham was very good and obviously a very good result but I thought we played even better against City and given the calibre of players City have managed to bring in.[LNB]"I think Wigan are similar to ourselves and a lot of teams in the bottom half of the table - on their day they are terrific but then they have had other days like when they went down to Spurs and were beaten 9-1.[LNB]"We just want to keep winning games. There are a lot of matches in a short space of time and it can have a huge impact on the rest of the season.[LNB]"We've got that momentum. It came from the last half-hour at Wolves - even though we lost (2-1) - which we took into the City game.[LNB]"No-one expected to get anything from it and yet we were disappointed not to get all three points having taken the lead three times.[LNB]"That momentum continued against West Ham, which was a great performance and a great result."[LNB]Midfielder Fabrice Muamba is suspended on Monday night having picked up his fifth booking against West Ham while Gavin McCann's recovery from an ankle injury is likely to mean he is kept back until Boxing Day.[LNB][LNB] Wigan Evens, Draw 12/5, Bolton 11/4  

Source: Team_Talk