DEFIANT Dougie Freedman has played down the pressure placed on his own position after Wanderers’ poor start.

Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Brighton leaves the Whites third bottom with a meagre haul of just one point from their first four outings.

Freedman watched his side lose a winning position for the third consecutive Championship game in a row.

And finding himself answering to an increasingly frustrated set of supporters, many of whom are now calling for a change in management, the Scot insisted he was the right man to turn things round.

“I don’t worry at all,” he said. “I know what I have to do.

“I have been in this position a few times in the last five years as a young manager. I started in the bottom three, so I’m fine with the pressure.

“I understand the fans’ frustration – I share it – but as players and staff we are working very hard right now. And we are missing certain components of the game.”

Wanderers had to wait 10 games for their first win last season, which amounted to their worst start in more than a century.

They are a point behind even that total at present, however, but Freedman believes his side are stronger than they were 12 months ago.

“I’m not that concerned because it’s only a start,” he said.

“We are playing a lot, lot better than we were last year but I accept that we’ve got to get some points on the board.

“I understand where we are and what we need to do. I understand that to ask for patience is very difficult for people to take.

“But you’ve just seen that when you are down this game can be very difficult. It can be frustrating.

“It’s just that little bit of quality we need, a little bit better decision making on the ball or near the goal.”

Many disgruntled fans contacted The Bolton News through social media and email over the weekend to demand changes at the top.

The indications are, however, that the club will continue to stand by the Scot they brought in from Crystal Palace nearly two years ago.

He has an immediate chance to get a win on the board against Crewe in the Capital One Cup tomorrow night but knows that progress in the league is how he will ultimately be judged.

“It is a results business and there’s no problem with that at all,” he said.

“As the manager I need to make sure these players understand their responsibilities – and that’s to get themselves and the club up towards the top of the league.

“I honestly think I’ve got the nucleus of a good group in there, it just needs to hang on better at certain times.”