SATURDAY: THE heat is on - in more ways than one - after Wanderers only manage a 1-1 draw with Blackburn at the Reebok.

The odds are stacked in Wanderers' favour when they go in at half time a goal to the good and with a one-man advantage. But Blackburn, having had Andy Cole sent off in the 17th minute for stamping on Mike Whitlow in retaliation after being fouled, fight back with Matt Jansen cancelling out Rod Wallace's 41st minute goal. Rovers' boss Graeme Souness is pleased with a point but before leaving the Reebok launches an astonishing attack on Whitlow, accusing the Wanderers' club captain of "play-acting" and "cheating" when Cole was sent off.

MONDAY

DEAN Holdsworth launches a counter-attack on Souness, describing the Rovers boss as "a disgrace" and describing Mike Whitlow as "an honest professional". "Anyone who says otherwise wants his head testing," Holdsworth insists. Whitlow joins Holdsworth and manager Sam Allardyce in condemning Souness and maintaining: "I am no cheat!"

TUESDAY

MORE survival points go begging as Wanderers go down 1-0 at Sunderland - one former Burnden midfielder, Jason McAteer, getting the goal that made another, Peter Reid, a very happy manager. Mike Whitlow (ribs) and Michael Ricketts (ankle) are added to the injury list that aready includes Per Frandsen, Simon Charlton and Fredi Bobic. David Norris, on loan at Hull, scores on his debut in the Tigers' victory over Mansfield.

WEDNESDAY

PETER Reid, relieved to see his Black Cats bank three vital points, backs his old mate, Sam Allardyce, to get Wanderers out of trouble. "He can handle it and he will make sure his players can handle it."

THURSDAY

TEST show that neither Whitlow nor Ricketts are as bad as first feared and both players should be fit for the relegation showdown with Derby. The Bolton players are upbeat about their survival chances, despite the bookies quoting them odds-on to go down.

FRIDAY

PER Frandsen gave Wanderers a boost by targeting next week's crunch Reebok clash with relegation rivals Derby County after missing seven games with an ankle injury.