Last week was a disruptive week with players away on international duty including myself. As a result, I think it was evident against Middlesbrough that we looked like a team that had not trained together all week. The performance was very disappointing as we never got going in the first half and in the ten minutes that we did, we didn't punish them. We then ended up getting done with the sucker punch.
We had every right to get a rollocking at half-time and although we improved in the second half it was probably below the high standard we have set for ourselves in recent weeks. The only good thing we can take out of it is we managed to show enough character to get a result and we are still alive in the cup. Our reward is a potential tie away to Everton which is one we would very much be looking forward to if we can get past Middlesbrough away next week.
Now we have had a full week's training together and we have all had a little reality check from last weekend that everything was going too well. It is just a reminder that we can never take our foot off the pedal.
Unfortunately I will be on the sidelines this week as the boys go to the Reebok Stadium. It is a very hard place to get a result but we are looking to get revenge for a defeat at home that stopped a run we had just started early in the season. Everyone knows how tough it is to play away at Bolton but it is important for us to match them and stand up strong when our goal and our 18-yard box is being bombarded. We need to learn from last week to take our chances when they come.
Bolton are not on a great run of form so it will be important to get off to a very good start and stifle any momentum they try and build. We need to keep the great run we have had away from home going and come away with the points.
This is a very crucial part of our season. If we can win this one and on Wednesday night it will set us up next Sunday to beat a Manchester City side who haven't been going very well away from home in the league. If that happens, we will definitely be chasing those above and leave a fairly decent gap on those behind us. It is a huge weekend and a positive result, no matter how we perform, is vital. I will then look forward to joining back up with the squad and hopefully getting us into the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Lucas Neill