Bolton Wanderers’ MJ Williams believes Saturday’s Sunderland game is the chance to make a “statement” with victory over the Black Cats.

Bolton have started the season well having been promoted from League Two, and there is a belief within the team that they could cause a major upset with a win over Sunderland this weekend. 

“I think it will be a great game to go out and express ourselves,” said Williams, via The Bolton News.

“It’s a big stadium, usually a good atmosphere with loads of fans as well, and we’ll hopefully have a fair few there as well.

“It is a good one to concentrate on now and show how good we really are, make a statement.

“We are gutted about the Rotherham game but there’s a chance to turn it around, and with Charlton on Tuesday, we can get back on a roll pretty quickly.”

Despite losing their most recent league game 2-0 to Rotherham, Bolton sit in eighth place in the table. It was only their second loss of the campaign so far, picking up three wins and three draws in their other six fixtures. 

Bolton made nine signings in the Summer, as many as opponents Sunderland made, but the team has largely stayed the same as the one who earned automatic promotion from League Two last season. 

Williams believes this continuity has helped them get their good start to life in League One.

“We have pretty much the same team as last year – Sheehan has come in, and a couple of others, but it has given us confidence because we know our game inside out,” he said.

“I think performances have gone up a level too on last season, which had to be the case.

“All of us love playing together so I think that will be a big thing now to the end of the season, it can help us get up there.”

The Verdict

Bolton’s most impressive results this season have been their 3-3 draws against both AFC Wimbledon and MK Dons, who both sit higher in the table than Ian Evatt’s men. But Sunderland will be their toughest test yet. 

The team will want to bounce back after last week’s disappointing defeat at home and there’s no better way to do that than by winning at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland are unbeaten in their last six games in all competitions and are one of the favourites for automatic promotion. 

The pressure is off for Bolton, who aren’t expected to be beating the likes of Sunderland having just been promoted. Hopefully this allows them to play with the freedom that MJ Williams discussed before the game.