SAM Allardyce has hailed his Christmas heroes who have propelled Bolton out of the Premiership drop zone writes Richard Mulligan

A draw at Everton on Saturday was enough to send Bolton out of the bottom three as the Whites have stood up to the festive challenge with their best period of the campaign.

After playing three big games in seven days, and set to face Aston Villa on Wednesday, the Whites have picked up five crucial points.

It is their longest stretch without defeat during the entire season, and it has seen them jump above West Brom and Sunderland and clear of the relegation spots.

This time last year Allardyce's team was in freefall as it endured a 13 game spell without a Premiership win.

But now the boss feels they are rising to the occasion when the pressure is turned up the most.

He said: "We have done what we failed to do last year and that is to follow one good performance with another when the games are coming thick and fast.

"At Christmas you have the opportunity to amass points very quickly and there is a chance to build momentum - we have done that even though we were faced with three away games out of four.

"We are looking fit and strong and there is lot of spirit and belief back in the side. The lads are showing their best form of the season and coupled with our best results, is very nice.

"Going into the West Ham game it was looking pretty desperate in terms of the situation of not wanting to be bottom at Christmas. But we responded magnificently and got a point.

"We then put on what was the best game at the Reebok in many a year with the win over Newcastle, and then came to Everton with a dogged, determined performance and got a draw.

"We now find ourselves out of the bottom three which is crucially important. There is less pressure on us now, and although there is a gap beween us and the rest of the sides we can catch up if we can maintain our form."

New Year's Day opponents Villa are six points and three places above Wanderers but will still be very much involved in the scrap at the bottom of the table.

Allardyce expects to welcome back Mike Whitlow and Youri Djorkaeff for the trip after resting the two at Goodison Park.

He said: "Now we can look forward to the Aston Villa game and hopefully we can start the new year with a bang there."