GEORGE Thomason says nerves are not an issue in the Wanderers camp.

With seven games remaining and a crucial Easter double against Stevenage and Reading to come, fingernails are being bitten to the quick right across the fanbase.

Thomason says it is a different story in-house, however, with the players upbeat about their chances of catching Derby County and overhauling a four-point gap to second spot.

Asked if nervousness was a problem the squad had to overcome, he said: "To be honest, no. I can understand from an outside perspective or from the fans’ point of view that with seven games to go it can be nervy. But in-camp we have just gone about our business, nothing has changed in training, the lads have been really positive.

“There is no point going out there and being nervous because we are at a point now where we have to win games and nerves are just going to hinder that. We have to play with excitement.

“We need to have a fearless mindset and try to attack everything that is in our way.

“These teams are in our way, stopping us achieving our end goal.”

Derby’s slip against Northampton Town has offered Wanderers a chance to really turn up the heat over the Easter weekend.

The Rams face Blackpool at home on Good Friday and then league leaders Portsmouth at Fratton Park on Tuesday.

Thomason believes Bolton must focus on keeping up their end of the bargain.

“Everyone knows the Easter fixtures can do you a lot of good, six points in three days could be vitally important,” he said.

“It is really tight now and it has swung in pretty much every team’s favour over the course of the season – Derby’s little slip-up might benefit us and we’ll try and put ourselves into the best possible position to make that happen.

“We are at the stage now where not only do we want to win games ourselves but we have to hope other teams drop points at key times and just make sure we are there, on the tail, ready to take advantage.

“That result for Derby has helped us and now it is even more of a spur to make sure we get our own business done.”