Ian Evatt wants his players to box clever to get Wanderers moving forward again in League One.
The Whites will be looking for a first league win in three games when they face Charlton Athletic on Family Day at the University of Bolton Stadium on Saturday.
Evatt’s men have lost to Sheffield Wednesday and Plymouth since making it back-to-back home wins against Morecambe in the middle of last month.
But the Whites feel they could have taken something from both of those games by being more switched on at both ends of the pitch and Evatt is looking to put that right against the Addicks to get back in touch with the early pace-setters.
“We’ve not hit top gear yet. I think there have been periods of games where we’ve done really well and controlled things,” said the Wanderers’ boss.
“There have also been moments when we’ve been not so good.
“They’ve been isolated incidents really, more than significant periods of games, when we’ve not done too well.
“We’re going to try and cut out those individual errors, stay concentrated and make sure we take our chances in the opposition box.
“I do believe our players will do that. I believe in our group of strikers and I believe in our defenders.”
Evatt added: “The first goal in games, especially against the top teams, is vital and we need to start taking them.
“We’ve had the opportunities to get ahead and we haven’t taken them and off the back of that, we have to keep the score at nil and make sure we’re not making mistakes which give us mountains to climb.
“And if we can start doing that, I think we’ll put together some really good performances and a good run of form.”
Wanderers failed to find the net in the defeats to Wednesday and Plymouth but between times scored against Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup and rattled four past Crewe Alexandra in their mid-week Carabao Cup win over Crewe.
Dion Charles’ return to fitness has brought the striker three goals in three games and Evatt is confident in the goalpower he has at his disposal as the Whites seek the win that would lift them above eighth-placed Charlton in the table and into double figures in their points’ total.
“I think we’ve got an excellent, well-balanced group of forward players, who offer different things, with Jon (Dadi Bodvarsson) to get back up to speed as well,” insisted the boss.
“I’m happy with them and I’ve no doubt they’ll score goals for us this season.
“I believe in them and they all know that I do. The facts are we creating chances and they will start to take them.
“I do believe they will score goals at this level. That was proven last season and I have no doubts that they will go on to prove it this season.”
Saturday’s visit of Charlton is another designated ‘Family Day’ designed to encourage as many people as possible to be able to come and watch the Whites.
Tickets are priced just £10 and £5 with details of how to purchase HERE