IN the dark, depressing Fourth Division days, long-suffering Wanderers supporters didn't dare dream that, even in their lifetimes never mind within two decades, they would see their team competing in Europe.

Even 10 years ago, as they prepared to say farewell to Burnden Park and looked forward to a second crack at establishing themselves in the promised land of the Premiership, the suggestion that the Whites would be the fifth-placed team in England behind Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool would have provoked howls of derision.

Yet here they are, and, for these past few weeks, the natives have been getting distinctly restless.

Chats in the pubs, discussions in the workplace and postings on the internet message boards have been littered with criticism of individual players, the team as a whole and, would you believe it, of Sam Allardyce - the man whose management has taken Bolton Wanderers into waters uncharted since the golden days of Nat Lofthouse, 1958 and all that.

Fickle? Unfair? Devoid of any sense of reality?

Not according to the man himself.

Allardyce insists that he and his team be judged against their achievements and, while he knows that, by exceeding all expectations, he has brought pressure on himself, he is prepared to accept the criticism. In fact, he expects it.

"They are disgruntled because of our last few results and performances," he said of the growing disquiet. "And rightly so.

"They are used to seeing us perform consistently and we just haven't been doing that.

"The expectation is there because of our achievements. We have to accept that we are expected to achieve things."

Demoralising defeats - by the same 4-1 margin at Spurs and Manchester United with a 2-1 home defeat by Blackburn sandwiched between - have cast serious doubts on Wanderers prospects of qualifying for Europe: not the Champions League place that might have been well within their grasp had they started 2007 as impressively as they ended 2006, but the UEFA Cup spot that was the minimum requirement when they kicked off last August.

A return of just eight points from nine games means that, although still fifth, they go into tomorrow's Reebok clash with lowly Sheffield United with the manager's "make or break" words ringing in their ears.

Allardyce has demanded a roll-your-sleeves-up approach, a back-to-basics performance and is talking in terms of a selection shake-up, although with such a small squad he has little room for manoeuvre on that score.

The absence of Ivan Campo through suspension gives him the opportunity to change tack in midfield, where Wanderers are starting to look tired.

David Thompson, signed from Portsmouth in January, has the experience and feistiness to be considered a strong contender, although Andranik and Idan Tal, who scored for Israel in their 4-0 hammering of Estonia on Wednesday, could also come into the reckoning.

Allardyce's main focus, however, will be on a back line that has contributed to its own downfall and is in dire need of a clean sheet.

Nicky Hunt, Ricardo Gardner - even Tal Ben Haim and Jussi Jaaskelainen who did much to lay the foundation for success in the first half of the season - have all been below par.

Chances are that Abdoulaye Meite, who missed the humiliating defeat at Manchester United a fortnight ago with a foot injury, is likely to return to the heart of a defence that goes into the game with strict orders to tighten up.

"We are a side that earns the right to play and on occasions we've lost that focus," Allardyce said.

"Sometimes we've gone about playing our football and at times we've overplayed when we haven't got the basics right first.

"There can be no more slip-ups, especially at home where our four remaining games are all winnable. Every game is difficult for us now, though, because of our predicament.

"That's why we need to sort ourselves out first then deal with Sheffield United, who are in a more desperate situation now than they thought they'd be in when they were looking safe just after Christmas.

"They've been on a poor run but Neil (Warnock) will feel they can stop it here, because of our recent form and results.

"We've got to make sure we show our class and get the three points and start looking up again an not looking down.

"Fifth spot is still in our hands and that's something we have to hold on to. We have to get back to doing the things that got us there in the first place."