Bolton Wanderers captain Ricardo Santos insists the Whites will not over-stress or over-think about their lack of goals at present following the draw against Barnsley as he admitted frustration they had not come out with three points.
The Whites were back at home yesterday and seeking to return to winning ways against the Tykes, following back to back losses against Cheltenham Town and Forest Green Rovers. He made three changes to his team, including restoring Dapo Afolayan to the starting XI.
But despite opportunities for the likes of Afolayan, Dion Charles and Jon Dadi Bodvarsson, Wanderers were unable to break the deadlock against a Barnsley side which rarely threatened. The Whites remain just outside the play-offs and level on points with the Tykes after the spoils were shared.
READ MORE: Defence on top but goals lacking - Two ups & two downs from Bolton Wanderers' draw to Barnsley
Bolton skipper Santos believes his side ought to have come out with three points and he and his team mates know it is the final bit at the top end of the pitch which they need to crack. He is confident they can rediscover their goalscoring touch soon.
He said: “A little bit (of frustration), we know we should have won today. I felt it was all us but there are positives to take from it, the wins will come.
“The gaffer said today we’d got the most final third entries we’d managed, so it is just that final bit. We have to stay positive. A week ago everyone was happy and we were scoring goals but this is football, it happens.
“We are not over-stressing or over-thinking about things, we’ll just go on.
“I felt they had a gameplan to slow the game down, players going down and stuff. It was hard at times because we were trying to gain some momentum and then the game would stop again. But I enjoyed it, the boys were good, but the goal was all that was missing."
Santos had a battle throughout the game against Barnsley's James Norwood. It was one he came out on top of as the striker had few chances throughout, aside from a header which went over the bar in the closing stages.
The Bolton skipper is often left on his own at the back as his fellow defenders push on to aid attacks. It is something he takes as a positive and knows the responsibility which rests upon his shoulders in that role.
He said: “I have played against him a few times. He’s a naughty one, likes to throw his arms around.
“I actually went on holiday with him in the summer, so I kind of know him. But he didn’t do much today.
“I just remember him playing for Ipswich, he throws his body around but he didn’t do much today.
“I don’t mind the players who run in behind. I do a lot of sprints, try to cover the boys a lot. But it is easier to play against someone who is trying to hold the ball up rather than running everywhere.
“The gaffer believes in me a lot and tells everyone, when we have possession, to leave me one on one. I take that as a good thing.
“There is a lot of pressure on it. I can’t make a mistake and if I do, they are through on goal."
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