NICOLAS Anelka has predicted that Wanderers will have to go the distance in the race for Europe.

The Whites record signing is confident they can still book a place in the UEFA Cup, despite the body blow of losing to Blackburn Rovers in yesterday's Reebok derby.

They remain fifth in the Premiership, still four points ahead of their closest rivals, but Anelka says there will be no room for complacency as the race hots up.

"Even though we have lost games, teams behind us are also losing at the same time," he said, drawing a measure of consolation from Reading and Portsmouth having slipped up recently.

"But we have to wake up now because we have lost two games in a row.

"It is going to be difficult and very tight, right to the end.

"We still have to go to Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United and that is going to be very, very hard. But anything is possible."

Anelka's 10th goal of the season proved nothing more than a late consolation as Wanderers went down 2-1 to Mark Hughes' Rovers.

South African striker, Benni McCarthy, scored twice from the penalty spot, in the 58th and 68th minutes, to punish challenges by Gary Speed and Abdoulaye Faye which Sam Allardyce described as "stupid".

It was the second successive Sunday that Wanderers missed an opportunity to impose themselves in the fight for a top four finish. But, whereas the 4-1 hammering they took at Spurs prompted Allardyce to concede that the Champions League was no longer a realistic possibility, yesterday's setback raised serious doubts about their chances of even making the UEFA Cup.

Everton, Spurs and Blackburn have now joined Reading and Portsmouth in the push for the top six and, with a trip to Old Trafford next on the horizon, Wanderers are facing the distinct possibility of their lead being cut to just one point.

Anelka believes Manchester United will win the title, but says Wanderers should still be looking to cause an upset.

"We didn't take our chances and now we have to wake up and play well and, hopefully, get a result against Manchester United," he said.

"It is going to be a tough game because they are on top and they play very well. They have top players and I don't think anybody can catch them this season.

"But this could be a wake-up call for Bolton. Playing Manchester United next could be good for us because we have nothing to lose."

Kevin Davies, who has missed six games with a cracked bone in his foot, could be back for the Old Trafford game. Allardyce is so desperate to get his spearhead striker back in action that he is hoping to arrange private practice games to get him as near to match fitness as possible.

"He is a big miss for the team," Anelka said of his fellow striker.

"Everybody hopes he will be fit for the next game."