THE postponement of Wanderers' Division Two game at Orient proved more than just frustrating for Ian Greaves' promotion-chasers, who were denied a chance to go top of Division Two.

More importantly, it cost Wanderers the services of Sam Allardyce for the first leg of their League Cup semi-final showdown with Everton.

Big Sam, who was expected to serve out a two-match suspension with the league game, was mortified when news of the posponement reached the team's London hotel. "I am really sick," he said. "Obviously there's nothing I can do about it but the Everton match was one I was really looking forward to.

"Suspensions of this sort seem unfair when the weather intervenes. I've been waiting a long time to serve out this two-match ban. The Everton match was one in a million and when I was suspended I didn't think there was any chance I would miss it. All I can do is wish the lads all the best at Goodison. But I really wish I was playing."

10 YEARS AGO: January 13, 1992

ANDY Walker - destined to become a Bolton Wanderers legend - proved an instant hit on his debut at Exeter.

The Celtic striker, signed on a month's loan by Phil Neal, scored within three minutes of being sent on as a second half substitute.

The goal was not enough to secure a victory for Wanderers who had to content themselves with a 2-2 draw after Steve Moran equalised for Alan Ball's men eight minutes from time. But it confirmed Neal's belief that he had a prized asset on his hands.

The Burnden boss, who was already talking about converting the loan into a permanent deal, said: "He's shown us already the qualities he has, if we can only stick the ball in the box."

Over at Bury, meanwhile, sporting prodigy Phil Neville was celebrating an international double. Just six months after making his cricketing debut for England Schoolboys, the 14-year-old from Elton High was named in the national football squad.

5 YEARS AGO: January 13, 1997

WANDERERS went eight points clear at the top of Division One with a 3-0 win at Portsmouth.

With 19-goal top scorer John McGinlay injured, manager Colin Todd switched from his customary 4-4-2 formation and employed Nathan Blake as a lone striker.

It worked a treat with the Wales international accepting the challenge and scoring twice in the 55th and 90th minutes with a Michael Johansen goal sandwiched in between.

But Blake's joy was tempered by the fact that his second half booking for a foul on Pompey's Adrian Whitbread put him over the 21-point disciplinary limit and in line for a two-match suspension.

One major plus from the game was the performance of Jamie Pollock, recently signed in a £1 million deal from Spanish club Osasuna, who turned in a performance reminiscent of the form that he showed in his Middlesbrough days.