"I've got to be honest" - Exclusive: Don Goodman drops Bolton Wanderers, Steven Schumacher claim | OneFootball

Pundit Don Goodman has given his reaction to Bolton Wanderers missing out on the League One play-off places.

Pundit Don Goodman has admitted he is surprised Steven Schumacher was unable to guide Bolton Wanderers into the League One play-off places this season.

After an inconsistent first half of the season, Bolton parted company with long-serving manager Ian Evatt in January after four-and-a-half years in charge, with Schumacher taking over as his replacement.

Schumacher had a strong League One track record having previously won the title with Plymouth Argyle, and given that the Trotters were only outside the top six on goal difference when he arrived at the Toughsheet Community Stadium, many backed the 40-year-old to deliver a play-off finish.

Schumacher made an excellent start to his tenure at Bolton as he won five of his first seven league games, but a horror run of seven defeats in nine matches during March and April ended his side's promotion hopes.

After the 4-2 defeat at Lincoln City last month, Schumacher laid into his squad, claiming that "I don't think it's got the mentality to get promoted" and admitting that "the summer can't come quick enough now" to allow him to make the changes needed for the club to challenge at the top of the table next season.

Don Goodman reacts as Bolton Wanderers miss out on League One play-offs

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Goodman revealed his surprise that Schumacher could not lead Bolton into the play-off places, and he urged him to tighten his side up defensively ahead of next season.

"I'm a little bit surprised that Steven Schumacher didn't manage to get them into the play-offs, I've got to be honest," Goodman said.

"They are a good team with good players.

"After initially losing in his first game at Reading, they went on a really good run and won five of the next six, but then from there, it's just fallen off a cliff really.

"When you look at the problem for Bolton this season, it's just been defensively.

"They've conceded way too many goals to give themselves a chance.

"They've conceded 69 goals in 45 games, and it's only really the teams who are struggling a little bit or in the bottom half that have conceded more goals than that.

"It's an area that he needs to address.

"You would back him with a summer on the training ground in pre-season and recruitment geared towards what he wants.

"You'd have to back Bolton, you always do when they're in League One."

It is difficult to disagree with Goodman that Bolton's poor form under Schumacher has been a surprise, and the amount of defeats they have suffered in recent weeks is alarming.

However, after arriving in the final week of the January transfer window, Schumacher has been working with largely the same group of players that underperformed for Evatt in the first half of the season, which underlines his point about deeper problems within the squad.

Schumacher has already made clear that he intends to make significant changes to his squad over the summer, and he will likely be provided with funds to strengthen, but after such a disappointing end to the season, he will be under pressure to deliver next term.