SAM Allardyce believes Wanderers cannot afford to lose Saturday's bottom of the table clash with West Ham if they are to retain their top flight place.

Wandererer are just one point above the Hammers and so defeat would leave Bolton at the foot of the Premiership table at Christmas.

Since the Premiership began in 1992-93, no team has ever avoided the drop if they have propped up the division at this time of year.

Last season Ipswich were in that position and despite a run of seven wins in their next eight games, George Burley's team were still demoted to the First Division.

With that kind of statistic on their backs, Bolton simply must get something out of their trip to Upton Park.

"The bottom line is the Christmas spot," said Allardyce. "You have to make sure you are not at the bottom. Everybody knows that and we have put an enormous amount of pressure upon ourselves to go to West Ham and get a result.

"We must make sure we get a positive result. We have to make sure that we get at least a draw as this is not the time to be looking up at everyone else.

"You don't want to be going into the New Year and second half of the season in that position because it makes life almost impossible.

"The next aim is to be out of the bottom three when we get into January and the time of the third round of the FA Cup."

Allardyce has now had a couple of days to reflect further on the home mauling by Leeds and is still concerned that lapses in defence are the root of his team's problems.

However, there will be no danger of centre half Bruno N'Gotty missing the trip, despite his being replaced during the second half on Monday.

Allardyce said: "As a unit we have forgotten how to defend at the moment and we are making life too easy for the opposition.

"Bruno is alright, it was his first game back and I didn't want to risk him after we went 3-0 down."