Exclusive: Sky Sports pundit makes claim on Bolton Wanderers situation as Steven Schumacher faces big challenge | OneFootball

Lee Hendrie gave his take on where Bolton Wanderers play-off hopes lie.

Lee Hendrie has admitted that if Bolton Wanderers can rediscover their 'rhythm', they still have an excellent chance of securing a play-off spot.

Steven Schumacher's side surrendered the advantage to Reading on Tuesday night after suffering a 1-0 home defeat to Rotherham United. Despite registering 36 shots and an expected goals tally of 2.65, they were unable to break through a resolute Millers defence.

This marked Bolton's fourth defeat in six matches - an alarming dip in form for a team that, just a month ago, seemed destined for a top-six finish under their new head coach.

Reading, meanwhile, capitalised on Bolton's misfortune with a commanding 3-1 victory over a struggling Shrewsbury Town side at the Croud Meadow. The result propelled them two points ahead of the Trotters, and with just five games remaining, every advantage could prove decisive.

This Saturday, Schumacher takes his side to face an out-of-form Barnsley, who haven't picked up three points since the opening day of March. It could provide the ideal platform to get their play-off push back on track.

Lee Hendrie still believes in Schumacher's Bolton

Speaking exclusively to Football League World about the League One play-offs, Hendrie still gave Bolton a good chance to sneak into the top-six if they can redisover their form.

"Bolton have been one of them teams," Hendrie told FLW.

"Since 'Schuhy's' gone in there, he has seemed to have got them going again and given them that belief. But the Rotherham result doesn't put them in good stead. There is still lots to play for, and there are lots of minutes to be played.

"I feel Ian Evatt took them so far, and now they have got themselves in a position where they have a really good chance of the play-offs – and they still have.

"We haven't seen great consistency levels in the league, so that's why if they can get that little bit of rhythm, they can place themselves in the play-offs."

Five games to fire for Bolton Wanderers

Bolton would have viewed the Rotherham fixture as a brilliant opportunity for three points, given the Millers' poor away form. However, now that those points have slipped away, they must look ahead.

Their final five fixtures include three away games against Barnsley, Lincoln City, and Peterborough United, with home matches against Wycombe Wanderers and Stevenage sandwiched in between. While only Wycombe have anything arguably left to play for among these teams, the rest will prove tough opponents, with all four sitting in mid-table.

Beyond that, Bolton are now chasing, rather than holding onto, their position, so they will need to outperform Reading's points tally and likely Huddersfield's to secure a top-six spot.

The Royals have lost just one of their last 14 fixtures, and while many of these games have ended in draws, the points all count come May.

Schumacher will need the likes of Aaron Morley, John McAtee, and George Thomason to be firing if they are to claw back that small gap. With just four goals in their last five games, finishing has become an issue and given the firepower they have up top, they need their attackers back to their best to beat their play-off rivals.