OUR daily record of events at the Reebok

SATURDAY

SAM Allardyce renews his call for a winter break to help Premiership managers compete with their European counterparts during the transfer window. "My job is hard enough as it is," the Wanderers boss says as he continues to be frustrated in his attempts to strengthen his survival squad.

SUNDAY

TABLOID reports predict Spurs will make a fresh bid for Michael Ricketts and that Wanderers will sign Valencia striker Salva Ballesta.

MONDAY

ALLARDYCE drops his interest in French trialists Pierre-Yves Andre and Florent Laville and admits negotiations with Ballesta are not going well.

TUESDAY

SPURS boss Glenn Hoddle says he is running out of time in his attempts to sign Ricketts, Allardyce denies receiving a bid from Middlesbrough and continues to struggle to find a replacement. On the pitch, Wanderers are beaten 2-1 by Everton in a disappointing display. Everton take a 2-0 lead in the first half leaving Wanderers looking dispirited and disorganised, their only consdolation coming with a Gudni Bergsson injury time goal.

WEDNESDAY

ALLARDYCE admits that his side is in 'grave, grave danger ' of going down after the loss of precious home points against Everton the previous night. "The 21 points we have taken from our 25 games is relegation stuff and you don't have to be a mathematician to work that out," he says.

THURSDAY

ALLARDYCE signs 27-year-old Spanish international Salva Ballesta on loan in an effort to bolster his strikeforce for the 13 games left to ensure Premiership survival. The player, whose name translates as 'safe crossbow', passes his medical and is ready to be thrown into Wanderers' vital game against Birmingham at the Reebok.

Wanderers also announce the signing of 18 years old Swedish defender Ndiwa Lord-Kangana on an 18 months deal. He is described a signing for the future.

There's more gloom on the injury front as defender Mike Whitlow is ruled out for up to two months after suffering a knee ligament injury in a behind-closed-doors game against Crewe.

FRIDAY

IT is a day - and night - of frantic activity which ends with Michael Ricketts joining Middlesbrough at 11.30pm for £3.5 million, Nantes striker Pierre-Yves Andre and Lyon centre back Florent Laville arriving on loan for the rest of the season and Salva Ballesta getting international clearance.