SAM Allardyce admitted this week that the nerves are jangling after seven games produced only six points for his side.

Defeats by Stockport and Watford saw Wanderers slip to sixth in the table, still in touch with the leading group, but obviously seeing the gap between them grow.

"I'm worried because only six points from seven games is not good and it shouldn't have been that. We should have had more wins but we can't change that now other than to learn why," Allardyce said.

"The league is still wide open behind Fulham and Watford. The rest of us are chasing. But we should have been up there with them but we're not.

"Fortunately our good start to the season has helped us stay with the leading pack despite fate, bad luck and some bad play by ourselves costing us vital points.

"We've got two home fixtures now but although Fulham and QPR are both struggling the games are massive for us in terms of where we go from here."

Allardyce hinted at the mood of the players as he described the pressure they face when playing in front of their own fans, especially coming off a bad run of results.

"The important thing is to use that pressure as a motivator to make sure we get the right result. We have to defend correctly and convert the chances. Scoring goals entertains the fans and if we can send them home happy we've done our job."

But for Allardyce the important thing is to win the game.

"We've had a fantastic start but we've dipped a little bit now. Not in terms of performances as at Watford where we played very well, but in results. Unfortunately it is a results game we're in and that's what I want no matter how it comes."

He admitted the three late goals that cost Wanderers a point at Gillingham and defeat at Stockport and Fulham were disheartening but the task in hand was to see why they happened and try and learn from it.

"The main reason is at one end we've given sloppy goals away, had four more deflected goals against us followed by an unjust penalty. On top of that we've had chances at the other end and not converted them at the right time.

"At Gillingham we scored twice and drew, at Stockport we got three and didn't win. We've got to get the scenario right. We have to make sure that when we're scoring one, two and three goals we are actually winning the game."

One problem facing the manager and his coaching staff as they analyse the last three away games is that there is no one reason for conceding late goals.

"Gillingham got a block off us to score their goal, Stockport won because Robbie Elliott tried to flick the ball back when he should have headed it out and at Watford it was the referee - all three goals different.

"Basically when we get to that late stage of the game the players have to focus more and play as a unit, not get dragged into our own box and invite pressure on ourselves."

The outcome of the next two games will show if the manager's message has got home. He's confident it has. Now the players have got to go out and do it - and get the right result.