ROY McFarland rapped out a message of reassurance from Burnden Park today and insisted: "We aren't out of our depth in the Premiership."

Five points from nine games have left Wanderers second bottom of the table, confirming the bookies' pre-season forecasts and causing growing anxiety among supporters.

But the Bolton boss has seen encouraging signs in their last two league performances.

After what he has described as a 'baptism of fire', complicated by the McAteer-Stubbs issues, he believes things are now starting to settle down.

New signing Steve McAnespie has been installed in an improving defence while the pending arrival of Yugoslav international midfielder Sasa Curcic could be just the first of a crop of new recruits in the creative department.

Irrespective of further signings, the manager is optimistic. "It has been a very hard start to the season," McFarland conceded, "but the last two games - even though they were at home and we took only one point from them - have convinced me that we can live with it. " Unfortunate late goals against QPR and Everton cost Wanderers three priceless points which would have put a different complexion on the league table. But the cold facts are that they face a daunting prospect on Saturday away to UEFA Cup heroes Nottingham Forest - the only unbeaten side in the Premiership.

Four trips, four defeats and 12 goals conceded illustrate the problems they have faced on their travels but the manager says the statistics don't tell the full story.

"True, losing at Liverpool and Manchester United was the worst week we've had," he admits, "but our away performances haven't deserved the results we've had.

"What we'd like to do now is keep the momentum going after the last two encouraging performances."

There is one major area of concern, however, which was evident in the second half of Saturday's 1-1 draw with Everton. McFarland explains: "We worked very hard to get the ball but we cast it away too easily. You can't argue with the way we worked to get the ball but we've got to work harder at keeping it."

Wanderers will take another look at Plymouth midfielder Wayne Burnett in tonight's reserve team clash with Newcastle at Burnden (ko 7pm). Burnett has been signed on a month's loan with a view to a £100,000 deal.

Record signing Gerry Taggart signs off before starting a three-match suspension for a red card in the reserves a fortnight ago while Fabian de Freitas, also out of first team favour, has a chance to prove his fitness after groin and ankle problems.

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