Bolton boss Steven Schumacher says he will not change his side's approach after their heavy defeat to Middlesbrough last Friday night.

Wanderers went down 5-1 at home, and Schumacher admitted for the first time in the league this season his side were totally outplayed by their opposition.

However, despite the loss, the former Plymouth Argyle boss says he will continue to set his side up in the same way, having guided them to promotion via the play-offs in May.

Schumacher's side hosts Bristol City on Saturday (15:00 GMT) at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.

"That's our way. I don't feel as though Middlesbrough won the game because we were gung-ho and we were open," Schumacher told BBC Radio Manchester.

"I think Middlesbrough won the game because they've got better players than us. Their starting eleven cost £45m; ours cost £1.7m.

"It had nothing to do with being pragmatic. We have got to give ourselves the best chance to win games of football, and that is by being really well organised, aggressive, winning duels, and being positive and clinical."

Bolton play their next three matches within six days of each other. After the Bristol City match, they head on the road to face Charlton Athletic and Derby County, respectively.

"They're all tough games, and three [matches] in six days puts a different element on it," Schumacher said.

"Two away games, on a Tuesday and a Friday, give us something else to think about.

"If we get a positive result against Bristol City, it will give us confidence for the next one."

Schumacher confirmed Chris Forino-Joseph is fit again and back in contention for the Bristol City match.

However, there was less good news about striking duo Ryan Hardie and John McAtee, who will be sidelined for the foreseeable future.

Hardie suffered a hamstring injury while playing for Bolton U-21s against Huddersfield Town on Tuesday.

Schumacher added: "We've had him [Hardie] scanned; we don't know exactly how long it will be but it'll be a little while, which is devastating for him and disappointing for us.

"John McAtee didn't train today. He has a knee issue that's going on that we don't know exactly what the cause of it is."