Megson: We will remain focused March 01 2008
Bolton manager Gary Megson has insisted his side will keep on fighting for Premier League survival and will not feel sorry for themselves despite a recent run of bad luck.
In their previous home match against Portsmouth, the Trotters lost to a goal which appeared to be scored from an offside position.
In last weekend's 4-1 defeat at Blackburn, Wanderers had debated a penalty awarded against them and had a Grzegorz Rasiak goal ruled out.
But despite fortune appearing to be against them, Megson felt there was no point dwelling on what might have been ahead of Sunday's visit of Liverpool.
"We haven't got to feel any self-pity, we have to carry on playing the way we are playing and hope one or two chances go in," he said.
"Performances, I have been very happy with, we just haven't got the results. If that is as good as we can get, so be it.
"When we play in the right manner, we have got results against Man United, Bayern (Munich), Atletico Madrid and we are capable of getting results."
After a decent run in December and January, the pressure appears to be back on the Lancashire club as they have won only twice in their last nine league matches.
Their position three points above the relegation zone means they cannot afford to slip up, but Megson insisted all the staff at the Reebok were refusing to listen to the doom-mongers.
"I find it very strange the way the things are being spoken about of the glass being half-empty when maybe two weeks ago it was half-full," he added. "The most we have been away from the bottom three has been four points and it is now three.
"After 10 games, the team were one point behind Derby. We are now 16 points above Derby and although that in itself does not win any prizes, we are fifth from bottom - whereas we were right out of it after 10 games.
"We were down, according to the sages; it was us and Derby with everyone else playing for that last spot. We have now put ourselves in a position where we are in with a fighting chance and we have to fight and battle and get as many points on the board as we possibly can.
"These players know what they are capable of and know the difference between a good and bad performance and they have determination and confidence that we can get out of this and I'm sure we will do."
Bolton have an excellent record at home to the Reds - having lost just once in 11 years - but that statistic did not concern Megson greatly.
"It doesn't matter whether you have had good results in the past, it does not follow the same will go again," he explained. "Liverpool are a quality side. It is a huge football club with huge expectations."
Off-the-field issues have dogged the Anfield outfit this season but the Trotters boss does not believe that is something his side will be able to use to their advantage at the Reebok Stadium.
"It is always difficult against them. In terms of exploiting it I don't think it will affect them," said Megson, whose team were comprehensively beaten 4-0 on Merseyside in December.
"All it needs when you are at a huge club is for one or two results not to go your way and all of a sudden it is a crisis. I think it is far from that and this will be a really tough game for us regardless of the circumstances.
"You will not beat any team at this level if you don't work hard, if you are not organised. You have to have that ability and you do need a bit of fortune.
"I think we have shown in the last few games we have got the first three but what has not been happening for us has been that bit of fortune.
"We have got to get after them, pressurise, play high-tempo football and we have got to cause them problems when we have got the ball.
"When we haven't got the ball, we are going to have to concentrate and do a lot better than at Anfield when we didn't have possession because that was four going on 14."