NICKY Southall may have to step aside when Paul Warhurst is fit to resume his trademark role in the Wanderers' midfield but he has the satisfaction of knowing he has given Sam Allardyce a selection headache.

The former Gillingham ace marked his most impressive performance yet in a Bolton shirt with his first Premiership goal at St James' Park.

It was not enough to prevent a defeat that left the Reebok boys in the relegation zone but it was a performance that suggested the 30-year-old can be a major influence in the 13-match survival scrap.

"I'm more natural going forward," Southall said as he reflected on his first game in the defensive midfield position Warhurst made his own before being sidelined by suspension and injury, "but if the manager wants me to do a job there, I'll do it. I'll do it for the team.

"It's a different position to what I have been playing. He wanted me to sit there and protect the back four, which I think I did quite well. I enjoyed it because it gave me a bit more space and more time on the ball. It wasn't just me, though, the lads in midfield were really up against it and did really well against their midfield.

"It's a difficult job but somebody's got to do it. It was me this week and, hopefully, I'm in there next week. But, if Paul Warhurst is fit, then he will probably be in there.

"I just have to keep my head down and and try and keep in the team, try and get up this league 'a.s.a.p'."

Warhurst is indeed earmarked to return against West Ham at the Reebok on Saturday but another impressive Southall performance in the FA Cup tie at Spurs tomorrow night could give Allardyce some welcome midfield options after recent weeks when he has been restricted by injuries.

Southall, signed on a Bosman free transfer from the Gills last summer having impressed against Wanderers in Division One games, showed the power and accuracy in his right foot when he pounced on a clearance to fire Wanderers into a 2-1 lead after Alan Shearer had controversially cancelled out Ricardo Gardner's opening goal in a thrilling first half battle.

"It was something I've dreamed about," said the native North-easterner. "I've had to wait all season but now I've got the goal and I've had a run of games to show what I can do. It's always nice to score but it makes it even more pleasing to score at a fantastic place like that.

"It's just a pity we couldn't get the win or at least the draw we deserved. The lads were really gutted in the dressing room because we knew we'd given a good account of ourselves.

"We worked hard to get 2-1 up but unfortunately couldn't hold on until half time. That would have given us a boost but instead it gave them a boost."

Although encouraged by the performance at Newcastle, Southall admits Wanderers must start winning soon to avoid a desperate, nail-biting end to the season.

"We are not looking at getting relegated," he said defiantly. "The only thing on our minds is getting safety before Arsenal come here in the last home match. We need to be safe before then.

"We don't want to be going into that game needing a win and Arsenal going for the Championship!

"We've got to get some wins sooner rather than later.

"But there are a lot of teams around us who have still to go to Newcastle and still to go to some of the top six teams, who are going for Europe.

"It's important for us to get something out of the next six games because they are against teams who are around us.

"This is going to be the defining point of the season for us."