Bolton need to turn performances into points

Four defeats on the spin, 10 goals conceded in the past three games. Bolton have now slipped into the relegation zone.

On the face of it, that makes for grim reading. But while the results have undoubtedly not been what we wanted, they do not entirely tell the story of what has happened on the pitch during that run.

For the most part, Wanderers have shown a fearlessness against some of the Championship's stronger sides, taking the game to their opponents and playing with real bravery.

The problem is, so far, that approach has gone largely unrewarded.

Tuesday night's defeat by West Ham was another example. It was, again, a devil-may-care encounter, with both sides playing at full throttle, and Bolton once again showed enough to suggest they are capable of competing at this level.

The fixture list has certainly done them few favours, either.

West Ham's victory took them to the top of the division, having spent the previous 14 years in the Premier League. Millwall missed out on promotion to the top flight by just a point last season, while Sheffield United are another of the division's big hitters and currently sit just outside the play-off places.

That makes the manner of Tuesday's defeat all the more frustrating. Bolton had come from behind to take the lead, only to be pegged back just four minutes after going 2-1 ahead.

The winner, meanwhile, came from a weak effort late on which somehow beat debutant Gavin Bazunu at his near post. He should have saved it.

Bazunu was thrown in, perhaps quicker than anyone would have envisaged, but it was a case of needs must following Jack Bonham's costly error against Millwall.

It is a cruel game. The former Stoke man was the hero against QPR, but there has always been a tendency for the odd lapse in concentration to creep into his game during his time at Bolton.

Bazunu, by comparison, looked more composed on his debut, and there were certainly fewer moments when supporters were left holding their breath.

I think we will begin to see the benefits of that decision in the games to come.

The frustration, then, is that Bolton are repeatedly showing promise, but are not getting the rewards.

That makes Cardiff's visit particularly significant. The Welsh side find themselves in a similar position to Wanderers, and if Bolton are serious about staying up, these are the games where they simply have to start turning their performances into points.

Don't forget to tap the 'follow' button at the top of this page to stay up to date with the latest Bolton news.