Welcome to the Championship

No one said it was going to be easy.  

Indeed being ex-Premiership I think teams will try and up their game and put one over on us, a la Burnley.  We need to step up and hopefully home games are the way to do that.  If we can turn the Reebok into a fortress as we did the season before last, it will have a major role in our promotion push.

We also need to up our reputation as a team that won't be easily pushed aside.  Meaning the players are going to have to turn up to every match.  This is something the Bolton players really need to improve on, especially some of the key players who think they're too big to be dropped (and OC can't be afraid to drop them).

Bolton need to learn how to press more, instead of the constant stand off, stand off approach.  Burnley had complete control of the game as they simply pressed Bolton constantly.  They seemed to have too much control in the middle, Mavies was a stranger the whole game, proof he does do better when supported by another two in midfield.  It was a surprise then that Eagles replaced Petrov on the left, when surely he should have been played in the middle, and Wylde could have been on the left.

Ream simply wasn't good enough and Mills should start ahead of him on Tuesday.  Knight had a slightly better game, coming close to scoring, however, when Burnley played the ball on the ground Knight simply couldn't cope, something he needs to improve.

Clearly Adam Bogdan was our man of the match, keeping the scoreline at two.

Here's the Wakey Wanderer team then for Tuesday night:

I've kept Mears and Ricketts purely because I don't think Riley or Alonso are good enough (yet), although the latter are certainly more attack minded so could be an option for later games if we are struggling to create chances/score goals.

I'd play five in midfield in almost a loose 4-3-3, although make CYL and Petrov aware that they need to get back and help out their full backs.

Yes Pratley is included as Mavies is my preferred CM (over Eagles), however, if Mavies' form doesn't improve soon, we could see Eagles at CM supported by either Andrews/Mavies or Andrews/Pratley.

My one message for Bolton and OC would be: PRESS MORE! We need to put pressure on our opponents, stop letting them walk all over us.