Megson issues rallying cry March 14 2008
Bolton boss Gary Megson has turned up the pressure on the players he rested by demanding a result at Wigan on Sunday.
Megson's second-string line-up was simply not strong enough to beat a rather ordinary Sporting outfit, thus missing out on a place in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup.
Bruno Pereirinha scored the decisive goal in the 85th minute at the Estadio Jose Alvalade to give his side a 1-0 victory on the night, 2-1 on aggregate.
With Bolton's fine European run at an end, the focus now switches to Premier League survival, and initially a relegation showdown at the JJB Stadium.
Kevin Nolan, Jussi Jaaskelainen, Kevin Davies, Matt Taylor, El-Hadji Diouf, Andy O'Brien, Ricardo Gardner, Ivan Campo and Gavin McCann will all be involved after missing out last night.
Megson, who has no regrets about fielding an under-strength side, now expects, insisting: "I've said all along our main aim is to retain our place in the Premier League.
"In hindsight I still wouldn't change anything, and there's no sense of relief we are out either.
"We're disappointed. You only have to take a look at the players in the dressing room because we certainly didn't come here to get beat, but our priority has to be the Premier League.
"Now I expect all the players left behind to put a shift in at the JJB on Sunday, and hopefully get us a result."
Megson believes the experience gained from Bolton's run to the last 16 can help the players for this season and beyond.
"What we've achieved is invaluable for everybody concerned with Bolton, the players, staff and people who run the football club," added Megson.
"We've shown that we've a decent squad and we're capable of going to some really difficult places and getting results.
"We've put in good performances each and every time we've played, but it's over now.
"In the short term we have to try and retain our Premier League status.
"In the long term - hopefully having achieved that - we then move the club forward so we're in a position to keep doing this year in and year out."
Gary Cahill, who captained the side last night in the absence of Nolan and O'Brien, was dejected at not leading the Trotters into the last eight.
But the defender appreciates the bigger picture as he said: "We are gutted to go out because the UEFA Cup is a big competition. It hurts a lot.
"We had to go for the win in the second half, but we got exposed, and now we need to get over this as soon as possible.
"A lot of players were rested because Sunday is a massive game for us, but then every game we play is vital at this stage.
"For us now, though, it starts on Sunday."