Manager Neil Lennon has challenged the Bolton players to prove a point when we face Bournemouth tonight.
Video – Lennon Previews Bournemouth
Speaking to the Official Site ahead of the game, Lennon was obviously pleased to see us secure Championship football for next season ahead of time given our struggles at points but he called on the team to prove a point and spoil their potential promotion party.
‘We`re almost seen as an also-ran for this game at the moment. We`re not going down there to make up and numbers, we want to spoil the party atmosphere. We go into the game as underdogs and that maybe suits us. When we looked at our last few fixtures we knew we were going to have a say on how things unfolded at the top.’
Lennon goes on to say that recently he feels we’ve been doing well and have definitely demonstrated that we won’t roll over, so that will be the plan as we try and upset Bournemouth tonight.
‘It`s a chance to show everyone what we`re all about and lay down a bit of a marker ahead of next season. We`re looking forward to the game. Bournemouth know what they have to do, but we have our own agenda. We know it is a bit of a frustrating one for some of our fans who have had to reschedule a lot of their travel and hotels with the game being shifted to a Monday night. We owe to our fans to put on a good show because the support we have received of late has been superb.’
With the fine and suspension given to both Neil Danns and Barry Bannan the other week, Lennon also said that with the passage of a little time and a reflection on his career, he has recalled Bannan into the match day squad for tonight’s match.
It’s yet to be seen if Danns joins him, but it sounds like he might.
With details of the infraction now being known, a late night drinking session that received complaints from other guests at the hotel, the manager said.
‘I think the suspension was enough and the fine will be the maximum required for that behaviour, and that’s it. I don’t think they’ll do it again, put it that way. Trust me, I was no angel as a player. Martin O’Neill can give you a book full of stories about me. He dealt with me in a certain way as well. You feel a bit like poacher turned gamekeeper as a manager but you do need to put a marker down and send a message out to the rest of the squad that this won’t be tolerated in any shape or form.’
Lennon goes on to say that with the game changing, players needing to be fitter and stronger to keep up with the speed of it, it’s one thing now as a professional having a drink or two at certain times, but ‘the days of heavy nights and days are becoming a thing of the past’ and it’s something players have to adjust to especially during the season, and he doesn’t believe that’s a bad thing either when he goes back to his playing days.
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