THEY might have made history in just qualifying for Europe but Sam Allardyce has told his players that their efforts will count for nothing, unless they win through to the group phase of the UEFA Cup.

Only if they dispose of their first round opponents, Lokomotiv Plovdiv, on Thursday afternoon (kick off 3.55 BST) will the Wanderers boss think he has something to shout about.

"It's nice to know we've created history and broken new ground," he said, acknowledging the fact that the club is playing in Europe for the first time in its 131-year history. "But it's getting to the group stages that will make me feel that we have arrived.

"If we do, we'll go on from there and wait with bated breath for when the numbers come out and we know who we are playing next.

"But I'll be extremely disappointed and upset, after all the hard work it took and how long it took to get there, if we didn't make the next round. I'd feel all the effort would have been wasted."

Wanderers hold a 2-1 lead over the Bulgarians going into the second leg of a tie that could have been much more awkward had they not had the character to come from behind to score a dramatic victory at the Reebok a fortnight ago.

And, although they believe it will be to their advantage that Plovdiv must score to keep the tie alive, their defensive options have been severely restricted by the worst spate of injuries in Allardyce's six year reign.

Ivan Campo and Nicky Hunt are definitely out and Radhi Jaidi and Gary Speed also missed the flight on Wednesday morning.

"In front of that we are OK but defensively it looks like we are going to be extremely short, which is obviously a concern," Allardyce said.

"But we'll have to cope with what we've got - even if it means using a back four that hasn't played together before.

"But we don't have to go there and win. If we get a draw it will be enough and, if there is a goal to be scored, we've got to make sure we get the first one, otherwise it will be difficult."