MJ Williams believes Bolton Wanderers are not that far off the top sides in League One as has been proven many times this season but admitted frustration at not being able to get results over the line.
Wanderers have been on a late season charge with a chance of reaching the top six by the end of April.
But the loss to fellow play-off hopefuls Plymouth Argyle last weekend, allied to midweek action from other sides, Wanderers are now 11 points from the top six and Ian Evatt's side now look firm outsiders for that now.
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Wanderers have eight games left to go of their campaign and will carry on picking up as many points as they can and see where it takes them.
Williams believes the clash against the Pilgrims, a narrow 1-0 win for the visitors, was a perfect example of several matches Wanderers have had against the top sides in the division this campaign.
And the midfielder knows he and his team-mates must practice what they preach and get three points over the lines in these encounters as Williams aim for a positive end to the campaign.
He said: “I don’t think we are far off. They (Plymouth) had their best spell at the end of the first half but I think for the majority of the game we were dominant.
“I think that has been the case against a lot of the teams up there and in the play-offs.
“But we know we have to pick the points up, it’s no good talking about it. We need to take our chances, keep the door closed.
“We all know as a team that we are not far away but it is just about that three points, the end result that puts you above another team to make a statement.
“There have been quite a few games this season where we have walked off the pitch and thought we should have won it, but we didn’t, and that has been the frustrating part.
“If you win every game you’ll put yourself in the best place you can.
“We have shown some great stuff this season and we have to keep showing it right to the end now and we’ll see what happens."
Wanderers are next in action this Saturday on the road when they make the fairly short journey to Cheshire to take on League One bottom side Crewe Alexandra.
Wanderers can do the double over David Artell's men with victory at Gresty Road and Williams is hoping Bolton can emerge victorious and go into the international break on a high, with the game next weekend versus Portsmouth called off and rearranged due to call-ups in both teams.
He said: “Getting back on the training ground for a full week will be good, then go to Crewe.
“We had a good performance at home against them so we will be confident and hopefully get three points.”
