RELEGATION battles may be a foreign concept to Owen Coyle in his managerial career to date — but he knows better than to predict how many points it will take for Wanderers to call themselves officially safe this season.

The Scot has never found himself at the wrong end of the table during stints at the helm of Falkirk, St Johnstone or Burnley.

But with four points covering seven clubs at the bottom end of the Premier League, that is exactly the situation he finds himself in before taking on Fulham at the Reebok tomorrow.

And while seven more wins would be required from the Whites’ last 16 games to surpass the magical 40-point mark that usually denotes safety from relegation, Coyle insists he won’t be drawn into making predictions.

“I don’t scrutinise the table, I scrutinise what we have at the football club,” he said.

“I look at what we can do to win the next game, knowing that will put us in a good position and if you don’t, you’ll stay where you are at best.

“If you’d asked me if I had any points targets at the start of the season at Burnley, my answer would have been the same.

“I don’t set points targets. I just want to make sure at the end of this season that there are three teams below us.

“We took over the club in the bottom three for whatever reason and it’s up to us to make sure we preserve its Premier League status, and then take it on.”

Gavin McCann (ankle), Ivan Klasnic (calf) and Stuart Holden (thigh) are out of action for the visit of the Cottagers, and Coyle has hinted that Johan Elmander may get a starting place up front.

The Wanderers boss has already come across Roy Hodgson’s side once this season, whist in charge at Burnley, and has forecast a tough afternoon.

“I played against Fulham earlier this season at Burnley and felt they were one of the best sides that came to Turf Moor,” he said.

“They are a very good side and they are not in the top half of the league by accident.

“They are there because they have some very good players and a terrific manager, albeit they have been on a poor run, but they addressed that on Wednesday night with a very good 1-0 win against Portsmouth.”

l Prices have been significantly reduced for the game, with tickets costing £12 for one adult and one child, £10 for one adult, or £5 for concessions in all areas of the ground.