ANDY O'Brien answered his greatest critic with his performance against Portsmouth last Saturday - himself.

Bolton's former Irish international has been slammed for recent displays, including the 4-2 defeat at Aston Villa.

But he and Gary Cahill won their respective battles against England duo Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe as Gary Megson's side returned to winning ways.

"I suppose football is about ups and downs and I am aware of my performances more than other people," said O'Brien.

"Not that that makes other people feel any better. But you have got to stay physically and mentally strong through good times and bad times.

"You try not to dip too low between the bad times and try not to get too excited with good times."

Bolton's 2-1 success over Pompey lifted them to ninth place.

However, they have Liverpool, Arsenal and United as three of their next four opponents, starting with the Boxing Day trip to Anfield.

Strange

"It's a strange league," agrees O'Brien. "When you are in that middle bit, you are only few points off bottom and only few points off Europe.

"This period at Christmas, with so many points at stake, is an important one.

"We have to go into games and think three points.

"You need a bit of luck and hard work. If you have those ingredients then things might go your way."

O'Brien was delighted by victory over his old club.

"It would have been sweeter had Harry (Redknapp) been manager," he said.

"Maybe that's a pathetic thing to say because it was a good learning experience and I miss a lot of people at Portsmouth. I didn't play as much as I would have liked to do but it was good club to be at."

BOLTON continue to be linked with Fulham's Jimmy Bullard and ex-Stockport, Rochdale and Macclesfield midfielder Ricky Lambert, of Bristol Rovers.

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