Wanderers' Valley of hope

A week ago, after they hit rock bottom with an abject performance against Derby, the critics started nailing down the lid on their relegation coffin.

Today, thanks to the god-given talents of a Frenchman, the never-say-die determination of a team of proud professionals and - it must be said - a slice of good luck, there is talk of resurrection.

No miracles, just a reward for honest endeavour, persistence and self-belief. Time and again this season, Wanderers have been just a whisker away from securing the points that by now would surely have put them in the comfort zone. For all sorts of reasons they have just not been able to go the extra yard to convert draws into victories or snatch points from the jaws of defeat.

But at The Valley on Saturday all the components came together to produce a triumph that should provide renewed hope for the Reebok faithful and strike fear into the hearts of their relegation rivals.

And it might just silence those who have been quick to criticise Sam Allardyce's management.

On Friday the Wanderers' boss produced an inch-thick file of letters from disgruntled supporters criticising his tactical acumen, his signings ... his motivational skills!

Far too many to even consider replying to, even if he had the time or the inclination, which he does not. Those who demanded answers need only analyse the performance that put an end to any talk of Alan Curbishley's Addicks - seventh in the table going into the game - claiming a UEFA Cup place.

Tactically naive? Despite being without defensive kingpins Mike Whitlow and Gudni Bergsson and midfielder Stig Tofting, Allardyce shuffled his depleted squad, made full use of the resources at his disposal, came up with a game plan and got his reward.

Bad signings? Even without scoring, Youri Djorkaeff's performances have oozed class. Now those who demanded something tangible from the French World Cup winner, who is admittedly costing a pretty packet, have got just what they wanted - two goals, three points!

Unable to motivate? After the Derby debacle it was suggested Wanderers were no-hopers in the fight to beat the drop. But Big Sam wasn't going to throw in the towel and he didn't expect anyone else to either. He simply told his players to face up to their responsibilities, handle the pressure and ignore the fear factor.

He could not have asked for a better response. Proud stand-in skipper Simon Charlton - a revelation as emergency centre-back alongside Bruno N'Gotty and Paul Warhurst - suggested the Derby defeat had been the wake-up call they desperately needed.

"Spirit has always been good in the camp," he stressed, "but this was the first time really that all the lads have said 'Okay, we know what's needed and we're really going to pull our socks up, pull our fingers out and do whatever it takes to get that result.'

"We really did go out there and showed that never-say-die spirit." It was only Wanderers' second Premiership win in 18 games and, having got lucky when Jason Euell missed the target with the 21st minute penalty that would have cancelled out Djorkaeff's first strike, there were some nervy spells in the second half when it looked like Charlton might burst their bubble.

But they were good value for the three points that lifted them out of the drop zone and gave them fresh heart for the seven challenges to come. The composure of their first half performance made light of the pressures they have been under and the resilience they showed in the second, after Jonatan Johansson punished Jussi Jaaskelainen for an embarrassing error of judgment, provided the most encouraging evidence that they have what it takes to secure their Premiership survival.

They certainly have the class.

Djorkaeff, quite simply, is on a different plane and Allardyce should forever be applauded for seizing the day and flying to Germany to persuade one of the world's great talents to come to the Reebok to revive his World Cup fortunes.

That he was unable to inspire victory in his first four games was no real surprise to the manager who acknowledged from the start that integrating so many new players - Fredi Bobic and Stig Tofting had already arrived - was a gamble.

But it was a risk he was prepared to take to keep his Premiership dream alive. It could pay off handsomely.

Any suggestion that this latest excursion south of the river, where their last seven top flight contests had ended in defeat, was going to add to Wanderers' woes was quashed early on as Ricardo Gardner gave them the attacking impetus.

Dean Holdsworth and Bobic were both blocked out but Allardyce's decision to harness the experienced pair and relegate Michael Ricketts and Rod Wallace to the subs' bench, proved decisive when they combined to create the chance for Djorkaeff to thread a shot through Jorge Costa's legs, across Dean Kiely and just inside the far post.

Euell's penalty miss after Warhurst had sent Scott Parker tumbling with a rash lunge was not the only time Charlton looked like pegging it back and Wanderers can thank N'Gotty for a magnificent tackle that denied Parker as Graham Stuart gave his midfield partner a clear sight of goal.

Djorkaeff's arrival has meant set-piece specialist Per Frandsen having to take a back seat - a source of amusement when the pair debate who is the man most likely when the target is in range. The Frenchman won the argument - and the day - after the Dane was bodychecked by Costa in the 39th minute.

Kiely was left cursing the deflection off Mathias Svensson that sent him the wrong way but no-one should begrudge Wanderers the good luck their performance deserved.

A little more good fortune and Djorkaeff, who tossed his No 13 shirt into the bank of 1,100 ecstatic Bolton fans, might have had a hat-trick when he met an Anthony Barness cross with a gem of a left-foot volley - only for the ball to skim inches over Kiely's bar.