THE Old Trafford triumph behind him and the first target of the season safely achieved, Sam Allardyce has reflected on "what might have been?" as he embarked on the next phase of his Premiership survival mission.

"We've got to forget Manchester United now and concentrate on Saturday," the Reebok boss said as Wanderers prepared to extend their unbeaten away run at Aston Villa.

"We've got to make sure we don't slip up there, otherwise the win against Manchester United will have been for nothing."

Allardyce revealed at the weekend that the 2-1 victory over the Champions - an 11-1 shot with the bookies - had put Wanderers back on course for the schedule he set at the start of the season. "Our target was 15 points from our first 10 games," he confirmed, "but we have had to do it the hard way.

"It's torture to look at where we are now and where we might have been if we'd sorted out our home form. Three draws from the three games - which we were certainly capable of - or just one win ... "

Sixth in the table with more than a quarter of the season gone is a position beyond Wanderers' wildest dreams but even a modest point a game from their last three home fixtures - Southampton, Sunderland and Newcastle - would have put them level on points with John Gregory's Villa, who went third with a 1-0 home win against Charlton last night. Nevertheless, they will be high in confidence when they travel to Villa Park, knowing they have been able to hold their own in the Premiership.

Reluctant though he has been to make changes to his impressive defensive unit, Allardyce will be forced into a double switch with keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen and influential defender Mike Whitlow suspended.

The manager was still searching for goalkeeping cover today but Frenchman Bruno N'Gotty, who was outstanding at right back on his Premiership debut at Old Trafford, has given him defensive options.