GUDNI Bergsson is backing Wanderers to raise themselves off rock bottom during his absence.

The Reebok skipper will be out for four weeks with a torn calf but he is confident his team-mates can lift the gloom without him.

Bergsson and Paul Warhurst have dealt the club a double blow with injuries which will keep both out for the whole of November.

It is a crucial setback to manager Sam Allardyce, particularly in the light of his decision taken after the previous game at Spurs to switch to a new 3-5-2 formation.

Allardyce, who decided on the radical change after becoming fed up with playing well and losing with 4-4-2, will keep the system at Birmingham City on Saturday and Bergsson believes the players will come up trumps.

He said: "The lads did well to come back and get a point after going a goal behind and they can build on this.

"We have got two really big games coming up against Birmingham and West Brom and now is the time for everyone to stick together.

"You cannot fault the spirit of this side. We were the better side in the first half and you could feel the confidence drain out of us when we conceded that goal right on half time.

"But credit the lads for the way they fought back. They showed great character and that is a quality that is going to be extremely important in getting us out of the position we find ourselves in.

"This season we probably have more talent in the squad than last season but last season we showed what you can do with the right team spirit.

"It is no good having the talent in the side if you don't make it count and spirit is going to be a very big factor for us now.

"We live to fight another day and now is the time for us to stick together and show the kind of character which got us back into the game against Sunderland.

"If we get that right I'm sure the points will follow and hopefully that can start to get a few points on the board against Birmingham."