TOP boss Sam Allardyce has blasted the critics who havequestioned his managerial integrity.

The Wanderers chief won the Barclays Manager of the Month award for December after the Whites hoisted themselves into Champions League contention with five successive wins.

But, as he celebrated the honour, Allardyce revealed how unsubstantiated allegations made against him in the controversial BBC Panorama "bungs" documentary in September and the subsequent publicity had taken its toll.

Allardyce, along with other Premiership managers, has been cleared of any wrongdoing by the Stevens Inquiry, but he admits the affair has made him more guarded with people he deals with.

"It's changed me enormously," he said. "I'm more careful about everything I do, in every walk of life."

The Wanderers boss told Sky Sports: "It means you can't trust anybody, only a few people - just on about one hand now.

"A small minority have tried to have a devastating affect, not just on this football club, but my life, my personal life and my family."

Allardyce will be hoping, however, that the "curse" of the Manager of the Month does not haunt him in tomorrow's Reebok duel with Manchester City. Wanderers beat City 2-0 at Eastlands three weeks ago - one of the performances that contributed to the award - and are aiming to complete a derby double.

Kevin Nolan, however, has urged his team-mates to use the manager's latest honour as a springboard for success.

"We've had a few players down the years who have won individual things and the gaffer has won his awards," Nolan said. "Now we've got to be looking to win something as a team.

"Qualifying or the Champions League is the target and that's in our own hands now. We're on 39 points, the same as Arsenal and one behind Liverpool, and we've got a good run-in.

"If you offered me the UEFA Cup and top five now, I'd be quite happy with that, but we've given ourselves a great chance by knocking on the door of the top four and, hopefully, that's where we'll finish, possibly with the FA Cup as well."