BOLTON: MIRCO LEFT FEELING OPTIMISTIC

BOLTON: MIRCO LEFT FEELING OPTIMISTIC

Goalscorer glad to be back in the team and on the scoresheet...

Mirco Antenucci says he and his United team-mates left the Macron Stadium "feeling optimistic" following Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Bolton Wanderers.

Antenucci’s second-half penalty, his fourth goal of the season so far, meant the shares were spoiled following an end-to-end contest.

Debutant Shola Ameobi had fired the hosts ahead on the half-hour mark from a corner, but United hit back with 20 minutes remaining as Antenucci won and calmly converted the spot-kick in front of the travelling fans.

“I’m happy because the team played well,” he said.

“We have come away feeling optimistic because it was a tough match. We created a lot of chances but it’s just one point.

“We played very well away at Fulham and also on Saturday. I think we have to keep going that way.

“We hit the post with Tom Adeyemi – we had a lot of chances. With the extra man we tried to create more chances.”

The Italian striker, last season’s top goalscorer, is also glad to be back in the starting line-up as part of a front two after returning to the team at Fulham on Wednesday.

“Playing every match helps me stay fit, it’s different to playing 15 minutes or 20 minutes,” he explained.

“A lot of the teams in the Championship play 4-4-2 and it’s a balanced system. You can be more dangerous with two strikers.”

Asked about new head coach Steve Evans, Antenucci said: “He’s had a great impact.

“He’s had no time to work because he had two matches straightaway.

“Now we have the time to work and we have to see the improvements in the next match.

“But I think we have improved in the last two matches because we created a lot of chances. Before, we had problems in some matches.”

Looking ahead to Thursday’s visit of Blackburn Rovers, the striker added: “It’s important to win both at home and away, but at home is very important because we have so many fans at Elland Road.

“They give us the power to win the match.”

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