You are in > manchester.com  > News > Win gives Megson reason to believe in survival fight

General Sport

Win gives Megson reason to believe in survival fight

13/04/2008

Bolton Wanderers' 1-0 win over West Ham United yesterday has given manager Gary Megson reason to believe his side can avoid relegation.

The Trotters are currently two points adrift of Birmingham City, who occupy 17th position on 31 points, and Megson says Bolton are now in a considerably better position to challenge the Blues than they were before the weekend's action.

Birmingham drew 1-1 with Everton while Fulham achieved a rare away win against Reading which also drags the Royals into the relegation scrap.

Megson says the results could not have gone much better for his team as the more teams involved at the bottom of the table the greater chance Bolton has of surviving.

He said: "It was absolutely imperative that we won and we did it in a manner that I thought was good from the players' point of view because it's not easy in that situation."

But Megson says results in games not involving Bolton will still greatly affect their survival chances.

He said: "It's closed the gap on Birmingham and Reading and from our point of view it is good Fulham won as they are still battling to stay in the Premiership and have other clubs in and around us to play.

"We are in there with a shout of getting out of it now and that's all we can ask for."

The Trotters will face Middlesbrough and Tottenham Hotspur in their next two games without striker Kevin Davies. Yesterday's goalscorer is suspended after picking up his tenth yellow card of the season.

Bolton then finish their campaign with a game against Sunderland before travelling to Chelsea on the final day of the season.