Wanderers 2, Tranmere 0

COMPLACENCY appears to be the biggest threat Wanderers face as they aim to consolidate their position as the number one contenders to Fulham's claim on the Division One title.

They've played with character, they've played with confidence; now that they've added a touch of class, it's hard to see anyone stopping their relentless promotion charge ... apart from themselves.

And with a determined manager and a quality team, brimming with experience and know-how, self-destruction is an unlikely scenario.

Triumphant over Tranmere on Saturday, Wanderers produced some of their most impressive football of the season - in parts better than anything seen since Sam Allardyce took charge. And there's a strong feeling that there's more to come.

Having collected more points than any other team in Britain in the year 2000 yet knowing it had counted for nothing, it was feared the new year might bring even more frustration. But, far from waning, they have gone from strength to strength, as John Aldridge's rocky Rovers discovered to their cost.

That they survived an even heavier defeat was down to a sprinkling of good fortune and an element of damage limitation that reduced the second half to a comparatively scrappy affair, blighted by two worrying injuries that took some of the shine off an enormously satisfying victory over a team that has been elevated to arch-rival status in recent times.

The signs were not good when Jussi Jaaskelainen was sped off to hospital complaining that his knee was "clicking" and it looked like double trouble when the battle-weary Michael Ricketts was withdrawn.

Both had played vital roles to put Wanderers on their way to their ninth league win in 11 attempts - the striker at his most menacing, the goalkeeper pulling off two crucial saves in quick succession to keep intact an early two-goal lead that was no more than they deserved.

But Rovers couldn't capitalise - not with the Bolton back four in such imperious mood. The points were in safe keeping and, on reflection, the result was never in any serious doubt after the two goals and the two saves in eight whirlwind minutes of a first half in which Wanderers produced some breathtaking football - positive, precise and penetrating on a surface that hardly encouraged a passing game.

The statistics will show that Ricketts didn't score, once again, when he was on the field from the start and that he didn't complete 90 minutes. But in the time he was on, the big Brummie was awesome.

His pace, power and persistence were simply too hot for Rovers to handle and he showed a mature selflessness that proved he can be a team player as well as an immensely talented individual.

His cross to the back post for Bo Hansen to head into an unguarded net with John Achterberg stranded was pinpoint accurate and his determination to set up Gareth Farrelly for a cross that Clint Hill turned into his own goal were just two of a series of surges that terrorised the Tranmere defence. A third saw the Dutch keeper lucky to escape with a yellow card when he denied Ricketts a goalscoring opportunity with a cynical challenge on the edge of the area just before half-time.

Referee Mark Halsey indicated that Ricketts was running at an angle away from the goalmouth but Allardyce was adamant - the keeper should have been sent off - but it proved of no consequence.

Ricketts won the day, game, set and match and Aldridge's claim that his defence gifted Wanderers both goals ignored the 22-year-old's enormous contribution.

Hansen was grateful for more than just the assist for his third goal of the season. "We are all agreed," the Dane said on behalf of his team-mates, "that the reason why we played so well, especially in the first half when we created all those chances, was because Michael was so strong up front and made those great runs.

"He played magnificently."

So too did Paul Warhurst and Colin Hendry at the back, a partnership laced with talent and determination with the potential to be the strongest combination yet of a series of highly-effective centre-back pairings that have provided the rock solid foundation on which Wanderers have built their successes to date.

In fact the current back four, with Gudni Bergsson and Robbie Elliott at full-back, would not look out of place in the Premiership.

With a midfield growing in understanding and confidence with every success - Farrelly, Per Frandsen and Kevin Nolan superbly efficient both individually and collectively - and Hansen and Ricardo Gardner respectively providing industry and invention they could well get a chance to prove it.

After all the pre-match talk of bitter rivalry, the two managers shook hands at the end in a public gesture that could, hopefully, put an end to the nonsense that has bred mutual animosity. But it was cold comfort for the Rovers' boss who was reminded in no uncertain terms by the Wanderers' fans of the pressure he is now under - taunted by chants of "Aldridge out!" and "Going down, going down!"

For Allardyce it was another good day at the office - one of the best. So good, in fact, that his only concern was that, now his team is so well placed and playing so impressively, they must ensure that confidence doesn't turn to complacency.