Wanderers were today given a potentially vital boost to their rapidly fading Premiership survival hopes.

Last day opponents Chelsea's growing reluctance to risk their star names just three days before the European Cup Winners Cup Final will give Colin Todd's men a crumb of comfort after Saturday's 3-2 home defeat by Leeds plunged them a huge step closer to relegation.

Stamford Bridge boss Gianluca Vialli threatened to spark fury among Wanderers' relegation rivals with his relaxed attitude towards Chelsea's Premiership run-in.

But his admission that he will field weakened teams in the last four league games will be music to the ears of Wanderers who could still find themselves going to West London on May 10 needing a result to avoid the drop.

Vialli is focusing all his attention on the European final against Stuttgart which comes just three days after Chelsea's date with Wanderers.

And he is desperate to ensure he has his first choice 11 fully fit for the trendy London club's biggest game in years which could mean Wanderers lining up against a Chelsea reserve team.

Vialli admitted he planned to play all 26 of his first team squad in the remaining four Premiership games against Liverpool, Blackburn, Newcastle and Bolton with more of his star names expected to be rested the closer it gets to the Cup Winners Cup final. He said: "Of course, I want to win all four games but my main concern is the final. I might play my best team in those games or I might rest some."

His actions could leave Chelsea open to punishment from the Premier League as fielding weakened teams breaks Rule six of Section B of the FA Premier League handbook which states: "Each club should play its full stregth team in league matches."

If Chelsea deliberately rest their first choice players their case will be examined by the board of the Premier League and a Premier League spokesman said today: "We will wait and see what happens on May 10th and then possibly look into it or take action."

Wanderers midfielder Alan Thompson predicted: "Chelsea will have their minds on the Cup Winners Cup Final and probably won't want to risk key players against us."

Wanderers's home defeat by Leeds leaves the Reebok boys facing an increasing likelihood of being relegated after just one season back in the top flight.

And looking at their final three games of the season, which starts with a trip to Aston Villa next Saturday, Thompson added: "We need to win all three.

"We have nine points to play for and, if you add nine points to what we already have, we could be safe."

"Villa are chasing a place in Europe and they'll come out to attack us and that will make it an open game.

"We've just got to stay focused and make sure we don't give stupid goals away." Meanwhile Mark Fish admitted today that it's now do-or-die for Wanderers.

The South African defender, disappointed that his first goal for the club amounted to nothing in the 3-2 home defeat by Leeds, says only three victories will do - starting at Aston Villa.

"I know we keep on saying it but we've still got three games left and, although everyone is disappointed, we are not out of it yet," the fans' favourite insisted.

"We've got to keep our heads up. It's do or die against Villa on Saturday. If we win there we can still have a chance, if we lose we're gonners."

A second successive defeat saw Wanderers drop back to second bottom of the Premiership, a point behind Barnsley who drew 1-1 at home to Spurs who are a further two points ahead.

With games to come at home to Crystal Palace (May 2) and away to Chelsea (May 10) after the trip to Villa, even Colin Todd accepts his team needs a miracle if they are to survive the drop.

Loan striker Bob Taylor says Wanderers should not throw in the relegation towel just yet, although he admits the chances of survival now look bleak.

Taylor said: "Looking from the outside in you'd think no, the way things are. But mathematically, some of the results went for us.

"There are three games left and we must be very positive, but they're very tough games.

"We're still in with a shout and just have to keep trying. Hopefully, with the grace of God, we can pull it off."

Taylor believes Wanderers should have salvaged a point in the dying seconds on Saturday when Gaetano Giallanza headed the ball home after he had forced a great parry from goalkeeper Nigel Martyn.

The 'goal' was disallowed for offside but Taylor reckons: "I thought I was running from an onside position.

"Nathan Blake said he thought I'd come from behind. The linesman said at the end of the game I was offside.

"I'd like to see it on television to confirm it but it's just one of those things. Sometimes they go for you and sometimes they don't.

"We shot ourselves in the foot. We gave away some silly goals and that's what's costing us at present. But we had some good chances even at 2-1 down to level the game. If we'd levelled it, I think we'd have gone on to win."

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