SAM Allardyce has revealed how the increased expectations of Wanderers fans had made him doubly determined to secure a place in Europe next season.

Although still in pole position, a wretched run of results since the turn of the year is threatening to wreck any hope of the Whites claiming a UEFA Cup spot.

But, with eight games to play, the Bolton boss says failure is simply not an option - even if he has to rely on the Intertoto Cup route.

"I know our fans are saving up already and we don't want to disappoint them," Allardyce said as he prepared for what he has described as a "make or break" clash with Sheffield United at the Reebok on Saturday.

"I remember the response I got from the fans last time and that's very important to me.

"It was the realisation of a dream, but now it's important that we enjoy that on a regular basis."

Wanderers, lacking in form and confidence, desperately need to beat Neil Warnock's Blades and stop the rot of three successive league defeats.

But Allardyce, who is expected to make a number of changes - out of choice as well as necessity - and is demanding a back-to-basics approach, hopes their superior quality will provide a victory that would put them back on course to claim one of the two UEFA Cup spots already guaranteed to the highest Premiership finishers below the Champions League qualifiers.

Wanderers chairman, Phil Gartside, has already spoken of his intention of using a large slice of the proposed increase in TV revenue to assemble a squad capable of qualifying for Europe in successive seasons, Allardyce would settle, for now, for a European campaign every other year.

He is only too aware of the perils of running a European campaign in tandem with a tough Premiership programme and believes it is unrealistic for a club of Wanderers' stature to hit a top six spot, season-in, season-out.

They made history last season when they played in Europe for the first time but the UEFA Cup campaign took its toll when a tired end to a demanding programme saw them finish only eighth in the Premiership. This season, without European distractions, they have been almost a permanent fixture in the top five - a position they still occupy, even after taking just eight points from a possible 27.

"Another venture into Europe is high on our priority list," Allardyce said.

"A club like ours has to be looking to achieve a European position every other season, as well as a top half finish.

"I say every other year because Europe will always come at a cost in the Premiership for clubs like ours. We've seen that with Newcastle, Tottenham and Blackburn this season - although Tottenham are absolutely flying at the moment.

"But they are all playing catch up.

"When we got to the last 32 of the UEFA Cup last season, we only finished eighth in the league, and even that was miraculous when you consider others have paid a much bigger penalty: look at George Burley six years ago when Ipswich finished fifth, went into Europe and got relegated "Realistically, Europe every other year is our top target - and even that's demanding.

"But I have that vision and the dream, not just for myself, but for my players and for the fans."