CHRIS McCann admits there is no escape from the Bolton derby build-up.

He can’t even fill his car up without people demanding revenge on former boss Owen Coyle and their relegation rivals.

“People in the petrol station have been saying ‘you’d better not lose!’,” he said.

“We know it means a lot to the fans so hopefully we can go and get the win that we want.”

And the 22-year-old, who made his first start after a four-month injury lay-off on Saturday, insists there will be no old pal’s act.

“I think it will be weird seeing him there after being here for so long and what he’s done for the club, but once you’re on the field you’ve got to forget about that,” he stressed.

“I think the chairman said he’d stated there were only a couple of teams who would make him leave, and one was Bolton.

"At the end of the day he’s a professional and he’s got to do what he thinks is in his best interests.

“We can’t dwell on that too much. We’ve got a new gaffer in now who’s confident we’re going to do well and we’re confident we’re getting behind him and hopefully we can do well under him.”

The Dubliner added: “Obviously it was a big loss losing (Coyle) but we’ve got Brian Laws now coming in, he’s a top coach so we’ve got to give him our all and get behind him and hopefully we’ll start pushing ourselves back up the league.

“We’re playing against Bolton, we’re Burnley and we’ve got to beat them!”