YOURI Djorkaeff has dedicated his dramatic last-gasp equaliser to the supporters who kept Wanderers going to the last kick of Saturday's Reebok duel with Southampton.

"My goal is specially dedicated to the fans because it was crazy out there," the Frenchman said. "The atmosphere in the second half was fantastic. My goal is for them."

Noise at pitch level was said to be deafening in the second half as the crowd responded to the players' determined efforts to break down the stubborn Saints' defence. The tension reached fever pitch when Wayne Bridge put Southampton in front with just eight minutes to go but the supporters responded again as Wanderers set about rescuing a point.

Even Jussi Jaaskelainen got in on the act, Schmeichel-style, when he almost made his height count at a Djorkjaeff corner. The reward came with just seconds to spare, Djorkaeff pouncing at the back post after Mike Whitlow had flicked on Jay Jay Okocha's long throw.

For the Frenchman, a World Cup and European Championship winner with France and one of the most famous footballers in the world, it was an opportunity to re-iterate his commitment to the club that rescued him from a difficult period at the German club Kaiserslautern and to the fans who have responded to his talent and endeavour by treating him as an icon.

Like everyone else who emerged from the home dressing room, Djorkaeff had mixed feelings - delighted that his first goal of the season had made up in some small way for the points lost to late winners by Liverpool and Arsenal in their previous two games but disappointed that two precious home points had been dropped.

But he believes it could turn out to be a valuable point gained.

"Sometimes an example like this is very rich for the team," he suggested. "I am sure the manager doesn't see that because we conceded the goal and we missed some chances.

"We had two good performances against Liverpool and Arsenal but zero points because they scored in the last seconds. This time nobody can say we didn't play well but we did not score until the last seconds.

"Now I am sure that the football will come and the results will come. We know it's hard but we want to go higher in the league."

Djorkaeff, who is held in awe by his team-mates as much as by his fans, says opponents are paying more respect and making life more difficult for Wanderers this season. But he is confident they can respond.

"The first thing teams do when they come to Bolton is defend while last year they came to Bolton to win the game," he says. "They watch the videos of our games and know Bolton are playing better this year.

"Now it's up to us to take the points and the more we try, the more success we will have. We tried on Saturday and maybe the goal could have come earlier but it came in the end.

"I'm happy and I'm not happy, if you understand. I am not happy with only one point but I am happy for the future. Tomorrow I think this could be an important point."

Djorkaeff smiles at the suggestion that he does not have the motivation he had last season when he was playing for a place in the French World Cup squad.

"There's no World Cup for me but my motivation is to help Bolton and for that I will do everything," he says. "I play game after game and I have the passion to play; I go training and enjoy it. I want enjoyment for myself, myfamily, the club, the fans, everybody.

"It is not always easy to find enjoyment but if you work hard enough you will."

Sam Allardyce, who signed Djorkaeff on a short-term contract last season, had no hesitation in bringing him back on a more permanent arrangement in the summer. He also sees him as an icon.

"A world class player will always lift your dressing room by the standards he sets himself and shows everybody else," the manager said. "It's a huge bonus for everybody here.

"He's a naturally fit player. The distance he covers and the workrate, with or without the ball, is fantastic. Coupled with all the ability he's got, his determination and his brain ... that's what makes him a world class player. When you have one of those in your camp, it can only make the rest of the team strive to get better.

"The way he is going, he can be the best coach in the world - just by the example he sets."