Jussi Jaaskelainen has urged his Bolton Wanderers team-mates to shake themselves and improve their performances quickly, otherwise they could be facing the stark prospect of relegation from the Premier League.

Added to recent warnings on a similar theme delivered by Trotters manager Gary Megson and defender Gary Cahill in recent days, it adds to an impression of gloom at the Reebok that hasn't much prospect of lifting any time soon.

The ongoing attempts by certain sections of the Wanderers' support to oust the unpopular Megson from his role as manager has not helped matters, and Jaaskelainen knows that the players must respond by lifting their game, before the situation becomes a crisis.

"I think the experience has been lacking in the last few games. Not individually but as a team," the veteran Finn told The Manchester Evening News earlier.

"We were 2-0 up against Blackburn and Spurs but we let both sides come back at us.

"When you play week-in, week-out against quality teams they will punish your mistakes. But everybody knows deep inside what we need to do."

Hard work is identified as the key factor by the goalkeeper, although the lack of appropriate effort isn't something one readily associates with the Trotters in recent years.

"We didn't work hard enough against Everton. When we come up against teams who have played a lot of games, we know they will tire. So, we must keep a clean sheet as long as possible," Jaaskelainen concluded.