SHAUN Wright-Phillips has told football's sideline snipers to find a different target than Bolton Wanderers.

On the eve of the derby meeting at the Reebok, the England international declared the constant criticism of Wanderers style was "unfair" and praised the job boss Sam Allardyce has done.

Wright-Phillips has tormented the Trotters on more than one occasion, scoring twice and getting red-carded in the 6-2 home win last season.

But the 23-year-old sees Bolton as a serious barrier as he and his City teammates bid to snap a two-game losing streak with a second consecutive Reebok triumph.

"It will be a good game to watch," reckoned Wright-Phillips. "All the games I have played against them have been open contests, and I am sure fans have enjoyed watching them. They are at home and will want the points, so I expect them to come out and play.

"We are two sides who badly want the three points so that we can start a little run up the table.

"People shouldn't criticise Bolton too much. All teams play to their strengths, and they have been to places this season and come back with points where others have failed. They are a credit to their manager Sam Allardyce.

"But they will find we are an adaptable side, and whatever they throw at us we will be able to handle it."

Mystified

Wright-Phillips is as mystified as everyone else as to why the Blues didn't fire in last weekend's home defeat to Spurs, but promises there will be better to come.

"We didn't play anywhere near as well as we wanted to," he accepted. "We achieved the minimum requirement, which was that we worked hard against Spurs, but we were unhappy with our team play.

"It was frustrating for the coaching staff, for us and for the fans as well - particularly after we had done so well beating Portsmouth and Aston Villa.

"That has gone now and we must not dwell on it - just make sure we get things right at Bolton and get things moving in the right direction again."

After scoring in each of those back-to-back wins, Wright-Phillips has not been at his sizzling best in the last two matches and accepts that he has become a marked man in the Premiership.

Extra attention

"I am getting extra attention at the moment. It seems like every time I go past someone I get brought down," he shrugged.

"It is up to me to work hard to combat that, but it can be good for the team, because, while the other sides are paying me so much attention, someone else might be profiting from the extra space."

Wright-Phillips has pinpointed Jay-Jay Okocha as the man who will have to most closely watched in the Bolton side. City's young star is a big admirer of the Nigerian playmaker.

"He is a great player and tremendous to watch," said the Blues winger.

"Not only does he have tremendous ability but his attitude towards the game is great. What he can do with the ball when he is on it is sometimes really unbelievable."

Wright-Phillips shrugged off any suggestion of a move away from City, where he recently signed a four-year deal.

"My future is blue. All I want is to play for the club," he said.

Who will come out on top in the Reebok clash? Have your say.

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