Bolton Wanderers boss Gary Megson is convinced their exciting UEFA Cup run can help his players' self-belief as they battle relegation.

The Trotters face Sporting Lisbon on Thursday and Megson said: "You look at what we did in Madrid, Munich and Belgrade. If we have a goal to hang on to, we are very difficult to play against.

"But when you have to push forward and gamble a bit more then you do leave yourself open at the back. That is what happened to us against Liverpool and we got picked off."

Bolton have struggled to score since the departure of charismatic striker Nicolas Anelka to Chelsea, managing just five goals in their last seven league games.

Megson admits they need to be more clinical in their finishing.

He said: "We have 10 big games coming up, like a number of clubs. We have never been a free-scoring team but we need to take our opportunities when they come along.

"I am sure we will get goals but we have to improve our ratio and there isn't a massive amount of time to do that.

"We cannot feel sorry for ourselves. We just have to roll our sleeves up and get on with the job."