Statistics are facts which rarely lie and cannot go unnoticed, writes John Leather.

There are some encouraging aspects at Bolton Wanderers this season along with the catastrophic.

Positively Bolton are creating goalscoring chances for fun, on Saturday passing 200 shots at goal, the most from any team in the division. Yet negatively the side have conceded 25, one of the highest in the league.

This January for the first time in transfer window history, wanderers sit outside the Premier League, perhaps this is a distinctive crossroad for the club. Parachute payments only last so long, and the club lies seven points off from the play-off places and 12 from automatic qualification.

Many at Bolton still expect promotion so what can be done in the window to achieve this?

If any money becomes available then three obvious names instantly spring to mind in key positions based on earlier statistics (stopping the rot, a more lethal edge in front of goal).

WILFRED ZAHA - Perhaps the form player of the Championship this season, may favour a Premier League club, but does have history with Dougie Freedman at Palace. Seems able to unlock defences, lightning pace and ability to score goals.

KASPER SCHMEICHEL - Anyone at the Reebok on Tuesday night would agree, the shot stopping and more impressively attacking distribution was of an incredibly high standard in the Championship.

No doubt about it, Leicester would not be in the top six without his performances. Conceding only 16 goals so far, only Brighton have managed less, this is no coincidence.

Schmeichel would be a valuable asset in goal, albeit another difficult one to pull off.

CHARLIE AUSTIN - Top scorer in the football league on 17, only Chris Eagles has more shots at goal in the Championship, could make THE real difference by following suit of Eagles and making the move across Lancashire.

Whether any of the targets are possible remains to be seen, but any number of the trio would make a substantial difference in the promotion push. With 30 games left it can still be done, five points in three games must surely be bringing new belief to the Reebok Stadium under the new management of Dougie Freedman.