Bolton Wanderers need to pick up points soon, to stand any chance of staying up. After a 3-1 defeat to Rochdale on Saturday, the Trotters sit 21 points adrift of the relegation zone. 

After a tight first 45 minutes, Bolton took the lead on the 56 minute mark through Thibaud Verlinden. That was as good as it got for the hosts, as Callum Camps, Oliver Rathbone and Fabio Tavares all scored to give the away side a 1-3 win.

Keith Hill’s side are improving, but not at the rate required. To overturn a mammoth 21 points would take a huge effort, which Bolton look incapable of on current form at this moment in time.

After that defeat, we look at three things we learnt about Hill's men after this frustrating defeat on Saturday.

They need to play with two strikers

At this point of the season, Bolton have nothing to lose anymore. They have to win games, quickly.

On Saturday, Hill started with Daryl Murphy upfront on his own. The 36-year-old needs support. Although he’s a good goalscorer at this level, his age doesn’t allow him to run the channels, sprint in-behind and offer a direct threat.

Joe Dodoo played well when coming off the bench, and perhaps they could utilise his pace by playing him alongside Murphy for future games this season.

Further signings are needed in January

Bolton played and competed well for the first 60 minutes. However, in the last 30 minutes they tired and were punished.

It’s naturally going to happen. Bolton have a small, inexperienced squad. At every other club, young players are nurtured and eased into the starting XI. At Bolton they’re having to play every week, and they simply can’t cope with the intensity.

They have a number of players they can build a squad around, but signings are a priority in January if they're to stand any chance of retaining their status as a League One club.

They need more goals from midfield

Jason Lowe played brilliant on Saturday alongside Ali Crawford, but both players must find a way of maintaining their industry and getting themselves in goalscoring positions more often.

The Trotters have a number of good wide players that can deliver quality into the box, however if Murphy is upfront on his own, Bolton need more players breaking into the box to try and score goals.

Hill must take a gamble and attack teams. The points difference is massive and Bolton have to start winning games in November, otherwise they’ll be too far adrift by January.