COLIN Todd is ignoring talk of a 'crisis' at Portsmouth ahead of tomorrow's Reebok clash.

The Wanderers boss, who is looking for a repeat performance of the last home game when his team blitzed Bury, doesn't expect Pompey's financial problems to cast a cloud over their team's performance and sees no reason why it should be of any concern to his own players.

"I know the Portsmouth players will put cash troubles to one side and concentrate on their football," he explained. "They'll want to get something out of the game - and so will we."

Alan Ball's team travelled north today without top scorer John Aloisi, who joined Coventry City in a £650,000 transfer yesterday - the first of what is expected to be a string of departures after Fratton Park chairman Martin Gregory put his entire playing squad up for sale.

Farnworth-born Ball has been relieved of any involvement in transfer dealings and is reported to have been furious that Pompey received just half the price he believes he could have negotiated for Aloisi.

But he has never fielded a team that would lie down and die and Wanderers shouldn't expect tomorrow's clash to be a walk in the park.

Nevertheless, Todd firmly believes his team has the wherewithal to impose their superiority, provided they can stay focussed.

"Our last home game was against Bury and we were outstanding that day," the manager said, recalling the 4-0 derby drubbing.

"We want a similar performance tomorrow. I want us to show everything that is good about Bolton Wanderers. We want to set our stall out, move the ball well and create and take the chances.

"We have an important period coming up and I can think of nothing better to send us on our way than a good performance and a good win."

Wanderers, who have taken 11 points out of a possible 15, are forced to make at least one change with full-back Neil Cox suspended. But his expected replacement, Gudni Bergsson, has been laid low with flu this week and is struggling to be fit.

Mark Fish is back from international duty with South Africa and comes back in the reckoning but Wanderers are expected to stick with loan duo Jon Newsome and Paul Warhurst at centre-back.

Newsome plays the final game of his month's loan from Sheffield Wednesday with the clubs still negotiating a permanent transfer.

Reports that Wanderers have agreed a £100,000 deal for 17-year-old Orient striker Danny Brown are premature. The London yougster had a trial in the Reserves on Wednesday and has been told he can return for another try-out next month!

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