BOTH Sam Allardyce and his chairman, Phil Gartside, have expressed their disappointment that only 15,500 season tickets have been sold - around 3,000 down on when they were last in the Premiership in 1997-98 - but are hoping the magnificent start will spark extra interest.

"The gauge of the reaction will be how many people turn up tonight," the manager said. "We can't do any more than win 5-0. If they don't get behind us now, we'll be struggling."

On the field, the players have set a benchmark for the rest of the season.

"It's a big, big challenge for them but we can't afford to dip below that standard if we are to progress," Allardyce added.

"I know they have the fitness to repeat that performance but I just hope they have the mental aptitude."

Wanderers are aware that Boro boss Steve McClaren will be looking for a reaction to the Arsenal hammering but they are keeping things in perspective

"If that defeat by Arsenal has knocked their confidence, I hope we can expose it," said the Wanderers' boss, who waits for fitness checks on Gudni Bergsson, Colin Hendry, Gareth Farrelly and Djibril Diawara but is expected to name an unchanged team.