Wanderers 1 SOUTHAMPTON 1: IT may have been only one small step - a two yard tap-in to be precise - but the point Youri Djorkaeff rescued with his last-gasp strike could turn out to be a giant stride for Wanderers in their relentless pursuit of Premiership security.

Let no-one be under any misapprehensions; failing to beat Southampton at the Reebok is a disappointing result. Such returns against the so-called lesser lights made life unnecessarily difficult last season and the optimists can spout on until they are blue in the face about Sam Allardyce having better players and a better squad this time.

Failing to make your superiority count, squandering chances created then being caught on the break is a recipe for disaster.

Nevertheless, there was evidence at the Reebok on Saturday to suggest that Big Sam, his players and their supporters are not only united in their determination to succeed but that the collective will that turned that fine stadium into a cauldron of noise and passion might, at long last, have laid the foundations of a fortress.

The crowd of 22,692 was ... well, not as big as it should have been. But the Bolton fans who did turn up made as much noise and generated as much atmosphere in the second half as practically any of the capacity crowds of the past five years. And if anyone finds that hard to believe, just ask the players.

Quite unsolicited, Gudni Bergsson paid the ultimate compliment to the Reebok fans claiming it was "reminiscent of Burnden" while Djorkaeff, who has won the World Cup and European Championship with France and the UEFA Cup with Inter Milan, described the atmosphere in the second half as "crazy".

It would have been a travesty if, after the way Wanderers dominated the half, that vocal support had counted for nothing. How many of the waverers would have bothered turning up for the next unattractive fixture?

It is the players' responsibility, as Sam Allardyce readily admitted, to get the crowd going and there have been occasions when the supporters have seen little to inspire them. Saturday's first half was hardly the most enthralling of contests, particularly with Southampton giving as good as they got, despite not having a recognised out-and-out striker on the field.

But the second half was a different story altogether and from the 49th minute when Michael Ricketts forced his way between Wayne Bridge and Chris Marsden to fire a dangerous cross into the heart of the Antti Niemi's goalmouth to Djorkaeff snatching a point with virtually the last kick of the game, the commitment on the field was high and the noise from the stands ceaseless.

Even after Bridge appeared to have secured a carbon copy of the smash and grab raid he helped Saints pull off in this fixture last season, there was no let-up. Not a single head went down. It was desperation stuff with Jussi Jaaskelainen leaving his goal unguarded when he went up for a corner and almost got his head to the ball, and the nerves were jangling as Ivan Campo

and a young helper frantically tried to get the ball from behind an advertising hoarding before leaving the throw-in to Jay Jay Okocha.

The Nigerian got distance, Mike Whitlow got height, Djorkaeff got space ... and Wanderers got their reward.

They have only themselves to blame for not having had the points sewn up long before Bridge picked up Anders Svensson's pass, evaded Campo's outstretched leg and lashed a left-footer that deflected off Bergsson to leave Jaaskelainen helpless. Allardyce was bitterly disappointed that the England left-back had been given the opportunity and the space to make the run into the box but he was equally upset at seeing so many scoring chances squandered.

There was no finger pointing and there was justified praise for Niemi, the new Saints' goalkeeper who frequently keeps Jaaskelainen out of the Finland team and managed to keep the ball out of the net until he was left

stranded at the end.

Djorkaeff, Ricketts, Gareth Farrelly and Dean Holdsworth all had reason to curse the former Hearts stopper at half time and even hard-to-please Gordon Strachan had to admit that his reflex save from Holdsworth in the second half was "exceptional". The rest, according to the Southampton manager, were "routine".

Saints defended well too but with Bergsson shaving the bar with a header and Ricketts going it alone when a straightforward cross would have given either Djorkaeff or Holdsworth an easy finish, Wanderers had more than enough opportunities to record their third win and end the day nestling nicely in mid-table.

Niemi did not think for one minute that Bridge's goal would be enough to win it. "I just felt we were getting something out of the game because there was not much time left and I didn't think they could score two goals," he explained.

"It's still a good result for us, though. We haven't had the best of starts and every point is special, especially away from home. Bolton are a very good team and they have learned a lot from last year. They beat Manchester United not so long ago and are a quality team.

"Away from home a point for us was good."

In the end Wanderers had Djorkaeff to thank for rescuing a point and they may well have him to thank for much more if he continues to influence and inspire in the way he has in his 19 games to date.

So respected is he in the dressing room that even Holdsworth - former prankster in chief of the Wimbledon Crazy Gang - does not dare subject him to the jokes, stunts and high-jinx that are part and parcel of the banter behind the scenes. Allardyce has gone so far as to suggest the Frenchman, now 34 and with his best years behind him, could become "the best coach in the world". And any good coach will tell you there is no substitute for hard work.

Djorkaeff did not have his most outstanding game for Wanderers on Saturday but he never tired of trying to break the Saints' resolve. There were touches of class - the neat footwork that set up Holdsworth's big chance - and there were times when he was not so good - a couple of over-hit passes left Ricketts looking on in despair. But his workrate was phenomenal.

Wanderers have been in dire need of a catalyst to spark a reaction between the players, the management and the fans since John McGinlay's departure some five years ago.

It seems Allardyce found one when he scoured the ranks of the unemployed at Kaiserslautern last winter.

The European transfer window had closed and no one appeared to believe Djorkaeff could still do the business. A few clubs on the Continent might just be casting envious eyes in the direction of the Reebok and wondering what might have been!

HOT-SHOT: Michael Ricketts fires at goal despite the attentions of Paul Telfer