WANDERERS fans remain hopeful but the Everton defeat has left them worried.

Chris Mills of Ainsworth said: "Before Tuesday I was reasonably confident we could stay up. But we were out-thought and out-fought by a pretty average Everton side.

"I appreciate all Sam has done for us but at times I worry about his tactics. The players seem confused by constant tinkering with the formation and maybe it is time to switch to an old fashioned 4-4-2 with Gardner and Mendy providing some much needed width.

"A new striker is a must and it is time for the board to gamble. It worked last year."

Steve Battersby said: "We bought unwisely in the summer and now we have an imbalance in that the new players are good but not necessarily team players, with the exception of Djorkaeff.

"We stayed up last season because we played as a team.

"Sam Allardyce does not seem to know what his best team or formation is. We are currently top of a mini league of four sides but have the most difficult run-in of the four and Sunderland have the easiest.

"We still have United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea to play which in reality could mean we may only have nine games where we can take win points."

David Holden of Harwood said: "We have to stay upbeat even though the most ardent of fans must fast be losing faith.

"Why upbeat? Because we are still outside the bottom three and as long as the likes of West Ham, Sunderland and West Brom keep matching our dismal form we still have a chance.

The crunch games must be Birmingham at home and West Brom away. If we can take maximum points from those it will give us confidence to go on and do our first double of the season - against Manchester United."