PER Frandsen refuses to believe that Wanderers’ number is up.

The great Dane has seen every side of the relegation equation as a Bolton player – with his goal setting Big Sam Allardyce’s Whites on their way to a famous last-day escape act against Middlesbrough in 2003.

But he had also sampled the agony of relegation on goal difference as part of Colin Todd’s swashbuckling but ultimately unsuccessful squad four years earlier.

The situation is simple for Owen Coyle’s team as they head for Stoke – win and hope.

And Frandsen remains optimistic that a tormented season at the Reebok will end on a happy note.

“I honestly believe they will do it,” he said.

“I saw what Wigan did at Stoke last year to stay up on the final day and I think there is a great chance.

“Sure, there is a lot of pressure, and they will have to rely on Manchester City to beat QPR, but as long as the team can keep their focus and concentrate on winning the game, I have a feeling it isn’t over yet.”

Frandsen reckons Owen Coyle has a huge responsibility on his shoulders to try to reduce the pressure on his team as they build up to the game at the Britannia Stadium.

“The players will be tense, they will be nervous, but that has to be managed,” he said.

“Big Sam took all the pressure off us before that Middlesbrough game and put it all on West Ham.

“We had been playing well and getting results, but so were they, and when we went into the final day we knew a win would be enough.

“He did well to keep the focus on getting that win, and making us ignore what was happening with anyone else.

“It has to be the same this Sunday. The players need to get their own job done.”

Frandsen has been generally disappointed with Wanderers this season, believing that the sprinkle of stardust that existed in the teams of his day simply doesn’t exist in the present squad.

“They all work hard but there is no player who is a bit different,” he said. “That is part of the problem.But of course, if they can stay up the manager can plan for that.”

As Wanderers do battle at Stoke, Frandsen will be leading his own HB Koge into a home game with Silkeborg.

The club, based just outside capital Coopenhagen, has been relegated for a couple of weeks, but assistant manager Frandsen is not too despondent about their plight.

“We have a lot of good young players and I think we will improve next year,” he added. “I am disappointed because you want to play with the best. That’s why I will be keeping everything I can crossed for Bolton too.”