SAM Allardyce has expanded his backroom staff considerably - not only bringing a more scientific approach to the players' fitness, dietary and mental regimes but also working hard on the more traditional aspects of the game.

Few Bolton teams in recent years have been acknowledged for their expertise on set-pieces (in a Third Division game at Bristol Rovers in 1990 they forced 20 corners and didn't get a single strike on goal!) - but things have changed under Big Sam.

Gudni Bergsson's double figure haul last season suggested that they were concentrating on set-plays and there has already been evidence that free kicks and corners could prove fruitful in the Premiership. Three of their five goals at Leicester came directly from free kicks and Michael Ricketts' header against Liverpool the other night was the result of a well-practised short-corner routine.

"I'm a massive believer in set pieces," says Dean Holdsworth, who spent six seasons in the top flight with a Wimbledon side famed for its power plays.

"We showed again the other night how important they can be. There was nothing lucky about that first goal."

Bergsson, who might have been practising law in his native Iceland had he not been persuaded to postpone his retirement plans for the second year running, paid tribute to the manager and his backroom team for playing such a vital part in getting Wanderers off to a flyer.

"All credit must go to the manager," the captain said on behalf of his team-mates. "He's done a fantastic job here along with his assistant, Phil Brown.

"Big Sam has to take a lot of credit. He's been tactically sound and he's instilled the confidence in us.

"We also have good coaching staff and trainers and that has helped because you have to be fit against teams like Liverpool.

"Their passing and movement is fantastic at times and we had to drop behind the ball and defend in numbers. But we did that and, although they had chances, they only scored the one and we have to be pleased with that."