Rotherham Utd 0

Wanderers 1

SASA Curcic has set his sights on an instant Premiership return with Wanderers.

"That is all that I think about," the super Serb declared as he whetted the appetite for the new season with another crowd-pleasing display at Millmoor.

"I want to play in the Premiership and, if I can get there with Bolton then that will keep me here for a long time."

On the strength of his last two pre-season performances that is a prospect that should bring cheer to every Wanderers fan.

For Curcic is rising to the challenge laid down in no uncertain terms by Colin Todd in an effort to get the best out of the jewel in the Burnden crown.

There were signs at York on Saturday that the Yugoslav international was starting to respond to the manager's cajoling. Then, after more frustrations in a first half against Rotherham where he played in an emergency strike role, he reverted to his accustomed midfield position and set the game alight.

Now he is looking forward to Wanderers raising the stakes at Carlisle on Saturday to ensure they are in peak condition for the league opener at Port Vale.

"This is my first pre-season in England and it has been hard work with all the physical training and with so many games," Curcic confessed.

"But I know it is important because we have to be at our best when we go into the first game. It is important that we have a good start and go from start to finish showing that we are favourites to go straight back up."

And in a frank admission, he acknowledged the frustrations Todd has expressed as he tries to harness his undoubted individual talents for the greater good of the team.

He responded: "I understand the manager's problem. I cannot explain it but when I am playing in games something in my brain clicks and tells me I can beat one player then another and another. I know I shouldn't but I feel confident that I can always beat the next man.

"I know I should pass the ball but something in my head tells me that I should go on. Then I sometimes lose the ball."

Two occasions when he didn't lose it lit up the Millmoor friendly as dramatically as the electric storm lit up the black night sky.

He needed a helping hand from Scott Green but Curcic broke Rotherham's resolve on 62 minutes when he skilfully weaved his way past two defenders and made it a hat-trick when he rounded goalkeeper Steve Cherry. A tight angle and the presence of Mark Monington on the goal-line denied the Sorcerer the goal he deserved but he was credited with an outstanding 'assist' as Green slammed in the rebound.

Brilliant became breathtaking three minutes from the end when Curcic turned his marker inside out and casually left Cherry stranded with a chip to the back post - only to become the victim of a double mugging.

The ball appeared to be going in anyway but Green stormed in to make sure with a close range header. Then, with Curcic celebrating on the touchline, officials with apparently no artistic appreciation ruled Green offside!

Wanderers, hampered once again by injuries, didn't have things all their own way and had lucky escapes when Junior McDougald, trialist Paul Baker and Andy Hayward all put chances wide.

Todd will demand more pace in attack and much more security in defence when Wanderers play their final warm-up game at Carlisle.

In competitive terms they are just 90 minutes away from the real thing but the hard-to-please manager insists: "There's still a long way to go!"

WANDERERS: Branagan, Green, Phillips, Curcic, Taggart, Strong, Johansen, Todd, de Freitas, Frandsen, Thompson. Subs Taylor for de Freitas (55 mins), McAnespie for Strong (60 mins), Whittaker for Thompson (79 mins).

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.