Wanderers' Premiership fate will be decided in three home games in the space of 18 days.

The Reebok clashes with Sheffield Wednesday, Leicester and Arsenal will determine whether it's to be relegation or revival for Colin Todd's men.

Three wins would not guarantee survival but would go a long way to setting up an exciting end to what has degenerated into a miserable season.

The performance in defeat at Liverpool on Saturday suggested Wanderers have what it takes to play their way out of trouble but time is running out and, without a win in 12 games, the trend is there for all to see and confidence is on the wane.

They need at least five wins from their 10 remaining games to give themselves any hope of beating the drop - and all but the ultra-optimistic have already marked them down for another swift return to the Nationwide League.

Todd, still searching for players to strengthen his survival squad, continues to toe the positive line, although he acknowledges that many of the club's supporters are losing faith.

"The three home games have got to give us hope," he said today.

"People must be getting fed up with me talking that way and repeating myself. But I know we are a decent side and I've got to keep the players believing in themselves.

"It's up to the players and, at Liverpool, they acquitted themselves well without having anything to show for it."

Mindful of criticism of certain performances and a team selection that, in the absence of the injured Scott Sellars and the decision to drop Jamie Pollock for "tactical reasons", gave the midfield an unfamilar look, Todd defended his players.

"Supporters might look at the game and say 'that player didn't put it in' and 'he didn't' but there's nobody hiding in that team.

"I changed the side to get some sparkle going, just as I'm trying to get players in who will give us some sparkle. We missed some good scoring chances on Saturday and that is one area where it's just not happening for us at the moment.

"Teams last season had that problem in the Premiership and obviosuly struggled. But it was the way we conceded the first goal that made all the difference."

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