Will Aimson is confident Wanderers have the leadership and strength of character to kick-start a revival.
Ian Evatt’s men are looking to bounce back from a run of four defeats in their last five league games following Saturday’s 1-0 loss at Portsmouth.
Wanderers now turn their attention to cup football with a Papa John’s Trophy tie at Rochdale followed by Sunday’s FA first-round tie against Stockport County to launch a run of four games out of five at home.
And Aimson says now is the time to stand up and be counted.
“There are a lot of people in the changing room who are experienced enough to have been on runs like this and we need our leaders to stand up,” said the Wanderers’ defender.
“We need 11 leaders when we’re out on the pitch and we need to stick together. It happens in football.
“It’s frustrating. Things won’t go your way – hitting the woodwork, the keeper making good saves.
“We have to stick at it, keep believing in what we’re doing and stick together.
“We just focus on that next game and getting that winning mentality back. That’s a big thing for us to get that confidence and get that belief back.
“Things just aren’t going our way a little bit. We need to get that ruthless edge back that we probably had at the start of the season where we were killing teams off.”
Wanderers were guilty of letting Portsmouth off the hook at Fratton Park as they failed to build on an impressive first-half performance and lost to a solitary John Marquis strike.
Aimson made his full league debut for the Whites after recovering from a pre-season injury and forcing his way into the selection picture.
And despite the disappointment of a losing start, the former Hull City, Blackpool and Plymouth Argyle centre-back is keen to keep playing his part and help lead an upturn in fortunes.
“There’s competition in every position and we are very strong in that central defender position,” Aimson added.
“I want to play every game but I respect we have four very talented players in that position so I will do everything I can to keep playing.
“The boys have been brilliant – George and Rico – so I’ve had to be patient and keep working hard in training and wait for my chance.
“It was great to play in front of the Bolton away supporters, which was unbelievable as it always is, but it was mixed emotions.
“It was a frustrating loss really. I thought we had enough moments to score and maybe even see off the game, which we didn’t.
“But at worse we draw that game 0-0. We can’t get beat and we have.
“It’s a bit of a fluke goal in my opinion but even so it can’t happen. You come away with a clean sheet and a point.”
Watch Will’s post-match interview HERE