Bolton Wanderers head coach Steven Schumacher has admitted his team have struggled to break teams down after losing ground in the League One promotion race.
The Trotters kicked off an excellent run of form in mid-October which saw them pick up five wins and two draws from seven games. This firmly put them in sight of the top two, although a 2-1 defeat at Wycombe Wanderers just before Christmas was an unwanted early gift.
A 2-1 victory over Rotherham United on Boxing Day saw the Greater Manchester-based side move back up to fourth, although it’s largely been a frustrating festive period since. A disappointing 1-0 home loss against Mansfield Town was followed by a pair of draws, first at Doncaster Rovers before yesterday’s stalemate with struggling Northampton Town.
The three-game winless streak has now left Schumacher’s side nine points behind second-placed Lincoln City, albeit the Imps have played a game more.
Schumacher aims dig at Mansfield and Northampton
Bolton are back in action this weekend when they travel to Peterborough United. Posh have been excellent since the appointment of Luke Williams in October, although did see a six-game unbeaten run come to an end yesterday when they were emphatically beaten 5-2 by Lincoln.
It should make for an open game when the pair clash at the Weston Homes Stadium, which is a far cry from what the former Plymouth Argyle boss has had to endure over the past couple of weeks. Speaking to The Bolton News, Schumacher claimed the recent fixtures have been tough on his side due to their opponents’ defensive setup, hinting at the clashes with Mansfield and Northampton:
“The last three or four games it’s been a grind, let’s have it right, they have been a grind, trying to break down these teams who just want to defend – apart from Doncaster, that wasn’t fair to them – that was our fault.
“But let’s keep going, keep believing in what we’re doing, because we will be OK.”
💬 Steven Schumacher’s thoughts on today’s draw against Northampton Town.#bwfc
— Bolton Wanderers (@OfficialBWFC) January 4, 2026
Continuing, the 41-year-old did admit that his team need to show more quality in the final third in the coming weeks:
“We have got to show more quality in the areas where we can, so what that means is a better cross and a better execution of a finish.
“Energy doesn’t help if you play that many games over so many days. It is tough, and when you have all the ball for 80 per cent of the time in every game, and you have got to make forward runs, you are not playing off any mistakes, because teams don’t make mistakes, it’s difficult, but it’s not an excuse, it’s just a reality.”
Bolton in danger of falling out of automatic promotion race
Of course, there is still a large chunk of the season remaining but any further dropped points could prove critical come May. Already nine points behind Lincoln, they have the chance to close that gap on Saturday with the trip to Cambridgeshire, with the Imps not scheduled to play.
Bolton then face tough trips to rivals Wigan Athletic and fellow promotion hopefuls Stevenage. A trio of away games is not ideal when playing catch up but it’s these kind of fixtures which could be the difference maker at the business end of the campaign.
Of course, securing a play-off place wouldn’t be a disaster. However, having tasted heartbreak in the final at Wembley Stadium in 2024, it’s a route they’ll be keen to avoid.