Wanderers 1 Tranmere 0

The modest midfield ace, who can boast an impressive array of top flight credentials, secured a victory over potential promotion rivals Tranmere which opened a five-point gap at the top of a handsome-looking league table.

Signed for £750,000 part way through last season to add quality to the Burnden midfield, Sellars couldn't halt the inevitable.

But, like so many others around him, the former Blackburn, Leeds and Newcastle wide man is showing a single-minded determination to make up for the disappointment of relegation. Last night's matchwinner - his first goal of the season - crowned an impressive midfield show that gave Wanderers a win the fans will savour and left Colin Todd singing the praises of one of the game's respected craftsmen, the ninth player to contribute to the 'goals for' column in the first dozen games.

The Burnden boss acknowledged the influence of the fit-again Yorkshireman but wasn't in the least bit surprised, adding: "Scott's always had that pedigree. Now he's beginning to show what he can do.

"He's got the know-how, the quality and the experience and his performance was excellent."

It was a description Todd felt inclined to extend to his entire side after a performance and a result that said as much about Wanderers' prospects as any of the previous 11.

He was fully justified in his enthusiasm, although there was the mere hint of relief after watching them survive an anxious late spell.

Tranmere, he accepted, are a good side and offered as stern a test to the unbeaten home record as any of the six other teams to have visited Fortress Burnden. But, having described Saturday's performance against Oldham as "awesome" he realised he'd painted himself into a corner on the superlative score. Instead of trying to put a label on a much more impressive display against considerably tougher opponents, he contented himself with the knowledge that Wanderers were good value for their ninth win, fully deserved their clean sheet and are top of the table on merit.

There is a growing confidence fuelled by an increasingly high standard of football that is generating a strong belief that this is a team worthy of promotion.

Sellars shone and fully deserved the accolades that came after he finished clinically when Nathan Blake turned John McGinlay's cross into an inviting 51st minute chance. But he was one of many on a night when there appeared to be no discernible weakness in a well-rounded side that is winning the respect of the entire Nationwide League and beyond.

Nottingham Forest boss Frank Clark cast an admiring eye over Alan Thompson, who again posed a major attacking threat as the Bolton midfield turned in another high quality, hard working 90 minutes.

Wanderers are adventurous in possession - not surprising since they are the nation's top scorers - but they are also tireless and tenacious when they lose it. No midfield yet has equalled the energy levels of the Wanderers quartet.

Thompson and Per Frandsen have still to meet their match as a central partnership and, with the wily Sellars and the terrier-like Michael Johansen in the wider roles, the balance couldn't be better.

Tranmere were certainly second best, although they always felt they were in with a chance as long as they remained just the one goal adrift.

For that they can thank the outstanding skill and reflexes of their brilliant rookie keeper Danny Coyne. The young Welshman, tipped for the top by Rovers player-boss John Aldridge, denied McGinlay at close range in the first half then kept out Thompson, McGinlay again, Blake and Sellars in the second as the crowd-pleasing Wanderers adopted the policy of attack being the best form of defence. "We're a bit naive at times," Todd confessed as he reflected on an anxious spell when Rovers felt they might have played their way back into it.

Indeed, Aldridge reckoned Rovers were worth a point but his verdict was self-flattering considering the only efforts to cause hearts to flutter were a 12th minute shot from the manager himself, which luckily deflected off Jimmy Phillips and onto Keith Branagan's crossbar, and a fairly tame toe-poke from substitute Alan Mahon that went straight into the safe hands of the well-protected Wanderers' keeper.

Aldridge, who showed his frustration in a flare-up with his own full-back Ged Brannan, also claimed he was denied a penalty when he went down under pressure from the irrepressible Gerry Taggart. But referee Furnandiz was not impressed while the Ulsterman's protest suggested the Republic of Ireland striker had made a meal of it.

There would have been an outcry if the Doncaster official had seen it any other way after being equally dismissive of strong first half appeals for a push on Gudni Bergsson and a crude block on Taggart! Tough though he was on penalty pleas, Mr Furnandiz took the soft option on 62 minutes when he allowed Liam O'Brien to get away with a dangerous late tackle on the fearless Frandsen, just three minutes after booking the Irish Rover for a trip on Thompson that wasn't half as bad.

Games against Tranmere in recent seasons have been hotly contested, hence the added sense of satisfaction after a win that left Wanderers an incredible eight points ahead of third placed Wolves with a record: played 12, won 9, drawn 2 and lost 1.

The history books show that similar starts have led, without fail, to promotion into top flight football.

In 1977-78, Ian Greaves' team won eight, drew three and lost one of their opening 12 fixtures - a run they extended to just one defeat in17 to lay the foundation for a Second Division Championship; in 1934-35, the team featuring Jack Milsom and Ray Westwood won 10 and lost two of their first dozen on the way to promotion and in 1904-05 10 wins and two defeats eventually became 18 wins and two defeats and, not surprisingly, another elevation to the old Division One.

To suggest history is sure to repeat itself would be premature but the signs couldn't be any more encouraging.

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