COLIN Todd has called on his players and fans alike to prove the doubters wrong in their double bid for Premiership survival and FA Cup glory.

The Wanderers boss turned up the heat ahead of Saturday's Fourth Round Burnden showdown with Leeds calling for a repeat of the partnership that drew widespread admiration at Newcastle last weekend.

"I've had countless letters, faxes and calls from the North-east praising the team's performance and paying tribute to our supporters," Todd said. "As far as I'm concerned, the two go hand in hand and I'm looking for the players and the supporters to work together for the rest of the season.

"I want us to go out there and prove to those people who say we are already down that they are wrong."

Latest figures suggest it will take a late rush if Saturday's all-ticket Roses clash is to get anywhere near a sell-out.

Leeds have sold their allocation of 3,000 but there were still around 6,000 tickets available for home sections of the ground when the Burnden ticket office opened for business this morning.

Wanderers officials have again warned supporters that no tickets will be sold on the day of the game - a restriction which will be strictly enforced. The ticket office will stay open until 7pm tonight and tomorrow to give fans every opportunity to make their presence felt.

Todd, who has Chris Fairclough available again after suspension and seems sure to make changes for the game, believes a cup run could spark a Premiership revival.

"It's every player's ambition to get to Wembley and we had a taste of it last year," he recalled. "But the FA Cup is the big event. I know because I never played in an FA Cup Final and I can honestly say I'd have sacrificed a cap or two to have fulfilled that particular career ambition.

"We have good players here but, if we want to make progress in the cup and give ourselves a chance of surviving in the Premiership, they have got to be determined and ruthless in both penalty boxes.

"I'm asking the players whether they want it badly enough."

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