By Mark Heys
March 19 2007

Sam Allardyce has warned that the fear factor is threatening to disrupt Bolton Wanderers end of season run in following the weekend defeat to local rivals Manchester United. Allardyce wants the Wanderers to get back to winning ways as soon as possible following Saturday's 4-1 mauling at Old Trafford but he recognises the fact that his players are wary at the moment.

Speaking to the official Bolton website, the Trotters manager says that the fear currently gripping his players could come back to haunt them at the end of the season.

"At the moment the lads are not getting to grips with the basics and until they do that we are going to struggle for results. I think there is a little bit too much fear in the players at the moment. The fear factor clouds the vision; it coulds the decision-making. I don't know why they are so fearful., but perhaps they are frightened of falling at the final hurdle.

"We are on a bad run and we are struggling with ourselves and our form at the moment, and we've got to try and get back on the winning track, no matter what it takes."

Since the start of 2007 the Wanderers have conceded twenty four goals including five at Middlesbrough, four a piece at Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur and three against Liverpool and Arsenal.

They have a chance to put things right over the next few weeks with a home tie against Sheffield United to come, closely followed by a trip to the JJB Stadium to face near neighbours Wigan Athletic.