Town are currently the Championship’s best example of a mid-table side since they are seven points short of the play-offs and the same distance clear of the relegation zone.
But they are definitely looking up rather than down, according to midfielder Cole Skuse, one of five players to remain ever-present in the league this season.
Skuse, 27, reflected on the team’s recent run of just one win in five outings and said: "It’s not for the want of trying, obviously, and on the whole our performances have been good.
"We should have seen the game out at Derby and it’s been fine details, maybe a little bit in the final third from all of us.”
But Skuse accepts that 13th-placed Town cannot continue to claim performances are better than results might suggest and that progress will be halted unless the necessary points are accumulated.
He added: "I know the manager and a few players have touched on it, but we can’t keep saying it and it can’t be a sorry story.
"However, the longer our performances go on like this we will pick up more points than we lose. We’re playing some good stuff and we probably deserve a little bit more than what we’ve got at the minute. We’re definitely looking to make that step up.”
The Blues are still looking for their first away win but the Skuse says it’s not regarded as a major issue in the dressing room.
"It’s not something that has even been spoken or thought about,” he said. "In football I don’t think you can go around putting too much pressure on yourself or it will have a big effect. Performances have not been bad but it’s just obviously getting the results.”
When they powered into a 4-1 interval lead at Derby earlier this month Town looked to be on their way to all three points, only to be pegged back to 4-4 and forced to settle for just one.
The Bristolian added: "The way the boys reacted and the next performance signalled that we weren’t affected by that result at all. The manager’s reaction was that it had been and gone and it happens to the best — forget it and move on.”
Skuse is a certain starter for today’s trip to face a Bolton side just one point outside the drop zone and without a home win in six attempts.
He said: "I haven’t had much joy at the Reebok but this will only be my second trip there. I played there last season with Bristol City and we were 2-0 up but lost 3-2.
"It wasn’t a great day. We were cruising at 2-0 and I think a few rockets and grenades were thrown around their dressing room at half-time.”
Like a lot of people Skuse is puzzled at Bolton’s indifferent start to the current campaign — but he thinks he might have an explanation.
He added: "They’ve got a great squad and their form is surprising but they might be in a similar boat to us in that their performances might not be reflected in their points tally.
"They shouldn’t be where they are with the squad they have. There are a few teams in this league — us being one of them — who are capable of stringing a few results together.
"If you can win three or four games it will put you right in the mix. Bolton can do it and so can we. There is no way we just want to be finishing in mid-table. The club has got high aims and so do the players.”