SOUTHEND United boss Mark Molesley feels the Shrimpers are facing a ‘mammoth game’ with Bolton Wanderers tomorrow.

Blues have worked their way out of the relegation zone and up to 22nd in the League Two table after picking up four of the last six points on offer.

But Molesley is keen to keep the good run going against the Trotters who are currently 11th in the table and have won three of their last four games.

“It’s a mammoth game coming up against Bolton Wanderers and what a big football club that is,” said Molesley.

“They have a manager in Ian Evatt who has done very well and plays a distinctive style.

“It’s a very tough challenge for us and one we have to be ready for.”

The Shrimpers will be heading into the game on a high after drawing 0-0 at table-topping Cambridge United last time out.

The share of the spoils followed a 1-0 win at promotion chasing Newport County.

And Molesley is hoping the recent results will have Blues buoyed up this weekend.

“We’ve got a lot of hard work ahead of us and some very hard games coming up but we can definitely be buoyed by the attitude and mentality and the resilience the boys have shown to bounce back from a tough time for us,” said Molesley.

“We had to get back up and whatever has been thrown at us this season we’ve come back out fighting.

“Whenever people have started to write us off we’ve come back out.

“But all we’ve done is got ourselves back off the canvas and in the fight.

“We can’t keep getting knocked down.

“We have to step forward now and put a run together to really start putting the pressure on teams around us and try to catch some too.”

Bolton and Blues were both relegated from League One last season and Molesley feels both sides are still trying to rebuild.

“Ian (Evatt) has gone in to Bolton to change the culture, a bit like myself and it takes time,” said Molesley.

“If you look at the teams nearer the top of the League it’s the ones who have had the most consistency with their manager and teams in the past two or three seasons.

“Ian is building something at Bolton and it takes times to get the foundations put down.

“But they have a very talented squad and manager and they’re in a process of transition as a club, like ourselves.

“They’re a quality side and it will be a really tough game ahead for ourselves.”