SAM Allardyce put derby rivalry into professional perspective today when he insisted: "I'd rather beat West Brom, Sunderland or West Ham than beat Manchester United!"

Wanderers have once again dented Manchester United's title hopes by taking four points from their local rivals this season but they missed another glorious chance on Saturday to put more daylight between themselves and the bottom three.

They dominated their 100th league meeting with their old rivals and were actually just four minutes away from recording their first double over the Old Trafford Reds for 24 years.

But, while some fans consoled themselves with a moral victory, Allardyce was seething after seeing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's equaliser, just seconds before the end of normal time, deny Wanderers two vital survival points.

And the manager was quick to point out that local pride will count for nothing if they fail to beat the drop.

"From a Bolton man since I was 15, our fans might find that hard to swallow," he acknowledged. "But my job is as a manager and not as a fan, whose whole season is about beating Manchester United twice!

"Unfortunately it doesn't work like that for me."

Allardyce fears that repeated late lapses - they have surrendered winning positions with last-gasp errors four times in the last 15 games - could be their downfall.

After the bitter experience of being held to 1-1 draws at the Reebok by Chelsea and Blackburn, he had hoped the howler at West Brom a fortnight ago would be their last.

But Wanderers had clearly not learned their lesson.

Now, even without harking back to the late lapses that cost them defeats against Liverpool and Arsenal earlier in the season, they know they should be eight points better off and sitting comfortably in the lower reaches of mid-table.

"If we don't eradicate it soon, it's going to cost us a place in the Premiership," Allardyce warned. "That's how serious it is."

Gareth Farrelly could be set for a loan switch after being made available.

The Wanderers midfielder, who is expected to play in the reserves against Manchester City at Gigg Lane tonight (ko 7pm), said: "I need games and there are a number of irons in the fire."

First Division outfit Rotherham United are keen on Farrelly but boss Ronnie Moore fears they cannot satisfy his personal terms.