"Under Ian Evatt" - Steven Schumacher told he must solve Bolton Wanderers "problem" in play-off push | OneFootball

FLW's Bolton Wanderers fan pundit has given his verdict on the club's promotion credentials under Steven Schumacher

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Steven Schumacher has overseen three wins in a row at Bolton Wanderers to revitalise their top-six hopes.

It has been a turbulent campaign for the League One side, who have been unable to replicate their form from last year, which brought them to Wembley Stadium for the play-off final.

However, poor form led to Schumacher coming in and replacing Ian Evatt in a bid to get the team back into promotion contention.

Victories over Crawley Town, Shrewsbury Town, and Leyton Orient have brought Bolton to eighth in the table, level on points with sixth-place Orient.

Bolton play-off prediction

When asked whether this run of form is a sign Schumacher can get the club to the play-offs, FLW’s Bolton fan pundit Liam O’Meara raised his doubts.

He believes the team’s defensive issues are still prevalent, but that the team can get a play-off place anyway.

“It’s been a really impressive start under Schumacher, more for in-game management and the fact that he’s been able to switch things and find a way to win in these three games in a row,” O’Meara told Football League World.

“The concerning thing is that, in all three games we’ve had to come from behind to win.

“The biggest issue at Bolton under Ian Evatt was never scoring goals, it’s the rate at which we concede them.

“That problem is still there.

“So in terms of expecting play-offs, it’s hard to expect it, particularly on the back of these three games, which, on paper were three winnable games.

“Leyton Orient were the trickiest but it was at home and I’d expect us to win most games at home.

“The trick now is that we’ve got Wrexham and Birmingham in a row, so suddenly in two games' time it could look very different.

“I think we’ll get the play-offs.”

Bolton promotion claim

O’Meara believes that a top-six finish is still possible, and once they’re in the play-offs then they’ll have every chance of earning promotion to the Championship.

“In terms of expecting [promotion], unless Schumacher is able to sort us out defensively it’s going to be very difficult because he can’t really change personnel though,” he added.

“Expecting it is pushing it.

“Promotion in terms of being realistic, automatically is completely gone in my view, so then it’s in the play-offs.

“Is it a consideration? Yes, because once you’re in the play-offs you’re [with a chance] aren’t you?”

Wrexham and Birmingham tests will be telling

Upcoming games against Wrexham and Birmingham will be big tests of Schumacher and Bolton’s promotion contention.

Those two sides have stood out at the top of the table all season, and the Whites will need to pick up results in order to prove their own credentials.

The defensive issues have improved game on game under Schumacher, but they cannot afford to go behind in these games either.