Samuel looking to push on

Full-back hopes Bolton can begin to climb the table

By Richard Bailey   Last updated: 4th November 2008

Samuel looking to push on

Samuel: Has impressed this season

Related links

Teams

Players

Also see

Jlloyd Samuel believes Bolton can learn from their recent poor run of form and use the Manchester City victory to kick-start their season.

The win over City at the Reebok on Sunday was their first win at home since the opening day and ended a run of just one win in 11 games.

The three points arrived at just the right time as disgruntled Wanderers fans had begun to take their frustration out on manager Gary Megson. Samuel insists the players were not affected by the supporters' outbursts.

He told The Bolton News: "It doesn't really affect us - it's the same as when the fans get on a player's back if things aren't going well.

"We're all big enough to take it and we've all heard it before so it's one of those things, we just needed to put the results right."

The former Aston Villa man is confident he and his team-mates can now build on their impressive 2-0 victory over City.

He said: "It has been a tough time for us. We have got to believe that we can get points every week now.

"If we can do that and work as hard as we have in the past there's no reason why we can't start pushing up the table."

Delighted

Bolton's match winner against Mark Hughes' men came from an unlikely source. Ricardo Gardner came off the bench to score the opener and set up the second and Samuel was full of praise for his team-mate.

He said: "He doesn't get many but I'm sure if he plays regularly in that position up front he will. He was a real threat when he got on and was man of the match with his goal."

It was the Jamaican's first league goal for six years, his last coming against Newcastle United in 2002, and midfielder Kevin Nolan admitted his team-mate may come in for a bit of stick at training.

He said: "It was a great ball across for Ricardo but he did his best to miss it.

"I couldn't believe he tried to shoot from 30 yards earlier. I said to him at the end not to shoot from there again.

"He'll get some stick this week. I'm delighted for him though, because it has been a long time coming. I'm sure he can go on and score a few more this season."