SAM Allardyce accentuated the positives today in a determined effort to prevent a second Premiership defeat undermining Wanderers' confidence.

"We must remain positive," the manager said in the wake of Saturday's 2-0 home defeat by Sunderland - their second successive setback on home soil.

"The confidence we've gained with the results we've already had has been extremely important," he insisted. "We mustn't let this defeat at home drain that confidence.

"We must remain very positive and take the positives out of this game - the way we played, particularly in the second half."

The manager is, nevertheless, realistic enough and honest enough to know that, whatever his old pal Peter Reid says about Wanderers having been the better side and having been hard done by, plaudits and pats on the back count for nothing in the final reckoning.

Consoling words

"It's nice of him to say that," Big Sam said in response to the Sunderland manager's consoling words, "but it is very, very disappointing because we know it's all about results and for us it's the second home defeat on the trot.

"That's the real crux of the matter. We're finding out what the Premiership is all about."

The game hinged on the 65th minute penalty, which Thomas Sorensen saved from Per Frandsen. Sunderland took advantage with Kevin Phillips and Jody Craddock scoring late goals from set-pieces to draw level with Wanderers on 12 points.

But Allardyce maintained: "We can take heart from our second half performance."