BOLTON  manager Gary Megson believes his abuse at the hands of the club's supporters has galvanised his team behind him.

Megson has come in for some fierce criticism from Trotters fans in recent weeks, most notably after last Sunday's 2-0 defeat at Tottenham and Wednesday's 1-0 reverse at the hands of Everton at the Reebok Stadium.

The former West Brom boss was an unpopular choice to succeed Sammy Lee just over a year ago, but he kept Wanderers in the top flight last season and in turn won over some of his detractors.

However, after a brief and belated honeymoon period with the fans, Megson has been the target of the boo boys once again following a run of just one win in nine Barclays Premier League games, which has left his team deep in relegation trouble.

Diplomatically, the 52-year-old refuses to lambast Bolton's fans for their dissent, and he believes it is helping to strengthen team spirit in the dressing room at a difficult time.

"I can't do much about it, they were restless the day I joined the club. That's how it's been for me for a year," Megson admitted. "The players do talk about it but we've got to cope with it.

"There are no issues in the dressing room. Although I got a load of stick down at Tottenham, the same in the last minute of the Everton game, I don't feel I'm on my own because the players are every bit as angry and disappointed at that reaction for me as they would be for themselves.

"My confidence comes from working with a good bunch of people who are intent on getting us out of the position we're in at the moment."

Tomorrow's televised clash with local rivals Manchester City provides an ideal opportunity for Megson and his players to display a united front to the watching millions.

However, with the visitors boasting a squad packed full of talent, there is also the potential for a very public humiliation.

Despite the stress that comes with managing a struggling side, Megson insists he is happy to deal with whatever flak comes his way.

"When you talk about the pressure of being in the bottom two, with what's going on in the country, there's a lot more pressure on other people. Pressure is relative," he said.

"The only way you can charm a group of people in football is by winning football matches, and to do that you've got to score goals and then everything changes.

"People don't come with the intention of having a go, they react to what they're seeing, and at the moment they're seeing a team that's having a right good go and working its socks off, playing some decent stuff at times but not scoring goals - so therefore they get a bit agitated."

Bolton have failed to score in four of their last five games, and Megson insists an inability to find the net is all that stands between his team and a rapid rise up the table.

"If we start scoring goals and do everything we've been doing, we'll have no worries," he claimed.

"But that's a big 'if'. We've got to score the goals and we haven't taken enough of the opportunities we've had in games so far." Tweet