AS a town, we have stood united around our football club in some extremely testing times.

This has been a wretched season for Bolton Wanderers, and it is one we’ll be glad to see the back of.

Wave after wave of poor form has meant a constant struggle in the bottom three, while the next dose of bad fortune has never been far away for Owen Coyle’s team. Through injuries to Stuart Holden, Chung-Yong Lee and, most recently, the tragic collapse of Fabrice Muamba, Wanderers have dealt with everything thrown their way.

But if we are to put this awful campaign in the past, there are two final hurdles to overcome – and it’s down to the team to forget about the bad luck, and start delivering the goods.

As ever, the supporters will do their bit – and it is to their immense credit that tomorrow’s must-win game against West Brom is again approaching a sell-out.

Apart from the 2,900 fans who have bought up the entire allocation at Stoke’s Britannia Stadium next week, this will be the last opportunity for the town of Bolton to influence its football team’s immediate destiny.

It is the most precious three points at stake since Jay Jay Okocha danced in celebration with Sam Allardyce after that memorable victory over Middlesbrough nine years ago.

Bolton is a Premier League club. Two wins against West Brom and Stoke should guarantee that continues to be the case.

Together – team, town and fans – we can make it happen.