JUSSI Jaaskelainen reckons “silly mistakes” cost Wanderers a place in the top 10 last season.

The Finland international, who is preparing for back-to-back World Cup Qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Russia, was disappointed to have collected only seven clean sheets over the course of the campaign.

Only Hull City kept fewer in the top flight, and Jaaskelainen has targeted at least five more if Wanderers are to establish themselves in the top half of the table next time around.

“Ideally, I would be keeping a clean sheet every third game, so you would have about 12 or 13 in a season. In the past I have had 14,” he said.

“Clean sheets are not just about the goalkeeper, or the back four, they are about defending as a whole team.

“We have played well but some silly mistakes have been made — and they are something we will have to look at for next season.

“To get back into that top eight you have to stop making these mistakes.”

Readers of The Bolton News voted Jaaskelainen as their player of the season last week, and the Finn has chalked his form down to experience.

“Always you look for consistency, because as a goalkeeper it can be a long season,” he said.

“As you gain more experience you tend to make fewer mistakes and that makes you more consistent.

“I have not kept as many clean sheets as I would have liked to, but I have been happy with my performances.

“It is easier to keep my focus now that I am a little bit older, so if I have a bad game, I move on and train hard. If I have a good game, I move on and train hard.

“I can keep improving as well because I don’t think I have reached my peak yet.”

Jaaskelainen is also looking forward to a charity testimonial in August, with countryman Mixu Paatelainen bringing his Hibernian side to the Reebok.

The game will be played a week before the new season kicks-off, and the goalkeeper admits that the need to treat the game seriously will affect the sense of occasion.

“I’d never thought about it as a celebration,” he said. “I realise it’s a great opportunity to raise some money for some local kids.

“My boys were born here in Bolton and that’s really important to me.

“The game has been organised for August, before the start of the season, so maybe I won’t fully appreciate it until after I have finished my career and I can look back and see what we did.”