Jones: We're In It Together

Gethin Jones says collective responsibility will get Wanderers back in the groove as they look for lift-off again against Barnsley.

Wanderers face the Tykes at the University of Bolton Stadium on Saturday with a place back in the top six up for grabs.

Three points will lift Ian Evatt’s men above the Yorkshiremen, who currently hold onto sixth spot on goal difference.

But despite boasting the best defensive record in the division, Wanderers still need to tighten up in both boxes.

And after drawing a blank in successive 1-0 away defeats to Cheltenham and Forest Green, Jones admits everyone has to play their part.

“It’s a team effort,” insisted the Whites’ vice-captain and defensive ever-present so far in League One this season.

“We all work hard as defenders. The attackers are starting the press from the front, they do their bit as well so, as a team we’ve been very good and solid defensively.

“Obviously, you want to score goals to win in the end, but it’s a team effort. It’s something we can all work on, not just the attackers.

“Us defenders get our chances at set-pieces and get to go up to the other end of the pitch sometimes as well so, it’s something that we all need to work hard on.

“We felt we dominated the Forest Green game. We had some big chances to score but it’s a team game. We’re not going to get at the attackers for not scoring.

“It’s the same for us defenders. We conceded two chances in the game against Forest Green, and they scored one so us as defenders need to concentrate to keep the ball out of our net as well.

“We’ve had a good talk and we’re all confident going into Saturday and we move on from last week.”

While they’re yet to fully click away from home, Wanderers have been nearly flawless on their own patch with five wins in six games.

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And Jones – who enjoyed a successful loan spell with Barnsley in the Championship in the second half of the 2016/17 season – is looking to extend that run and earn a belated birthday present after turning 27 on Thursday.

“All the family are coming up on Saturday to watch the game and to see me, so hopefully we can get the 3 points,” he added.

“The size of the pitch here is perfect for us. We can play expansive football and having the amazing home crowd behind us we come here full of confidence and ready to go.

“We were very disappointed with last week, but it’s forgotten now. You can’t dwell on it too much.

“The next game comes around quickly so we need to go into the next one full of confidence.

“It will be a very tough game and they play very good football as well. They have some good attacking players, so we’ll have to be very focused during the whole game.

“If we get that win, we’ll be back in that top six where we want to be.

“It’s been a very tight top end of the table. We’ve lost two games last week, but with a game in hand we have we could be only points from the top so it’s something that we just have to relish and take in our stride.

“The most important thing in this league is to be consistent, and we need to get back to winning ways on Saturday.”

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