ROY McFarland this week put Wanderers' season so far into positive perspective.

The Burnden boss put to one side the negative hype which has hung over the club in the early weeks and declared: "We have acquitted ourselves well in the division."

Wanderers went into their first season in the top flight for 15 years as practically everybody's favourites for the drop.

And that view has not been altered by their early struggle for points which has seen the side slump to second bottom with just one league victory against troubled champions Blackburn.

But McFarland believes the challenge has proved only as difficult as everybody at Burnden Park expected it to be before the season and insists there are reasons to be cheerful.

"Only in the Liverpool and Manchester United games were we found wanting," he suggests.

"Apart from that we have acquitted ourselves well up to now, even in the games we have lost.

"It has been tough but no tougher than we expected."

Wanderers relished their chance to show their quality pedigree against Brentford in the Coca-Cola Cup with two victories to set up a third round home tie against First Division top men from Leicester City.

And McFarland believes the competition can be a beneficial escape from the rigours of their huge Premiership test.

"Whether we are having a difficult time in the league or not it remains important to maintain an interest in the cup.

"We have to wait until January for the FA Cup which has the charisma. But the Coca-Cola Cup provides us with an interesting distraction.

"It was a very profitable and enjoyable experience for the club last year and we will be looking to go as far as we possibly can again this time."

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