DAVID Wheater believes the fixture list, which gave Wanderers such a tough start to both halves of the season, will give them the edge over their rivals in the battle for survival.

On paper the Whites have an easier run-in than Blackburn, QPR, Wolves and Wigan and, although they are taking nothing for granted, confidence is high going into the last 10 games.

Boosted by Saturday’s vital 2-1 victory over QPR, which lifted them out of the bottom three, Owen Coyle’s side can approach Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final at Tottenham knowing they have taken a significant step towards survival, and put the squeeze on the other four relegation-haunted clubs.

Having come through a punishing schedule, Wanderers now have to play just one of the current top five in their 10 remaining games, while Blackburn, Wolves and Wigan have to play three, and QPR play five.

Six of Wanderers’ countdown games are against teams in the bottom half of the table, including six-pointers against Blackburn and Wolves.

“We’ve looked at the fixtures and I think we have got the easiest run-in,” Wheater said.

“They’re not easy games, of course, but compared to everyone else they look okay. Wigan and QPR have got to play the top five but it’s down to us at the end of it. If we pick up the points and play confidently, then we will be fine.

“The (QPR) win was massive because it takes us out of the relegation zone but also gives us the confidence as well. We need to keep picking up these points and see how far we can get.”

Wanderers still have a considerable amount of work to do if they are to secure a 12th successive season in the Premier League, but Wheater has assured nervous fans that the players are upbeat about their survival prospects and believes there is a good balance of resilience and flair in the squad.

The former Middlesbrough defender is developing a good understanding with January signing Tim Ream and was encouraged on Saturday to see how another recent arrival Ryo Miyaichi and the recalled Martin Petrov proved effective in the wide positions.

“Confidence hasn’t been a problem,” he said. “You can see in training that the lads' heads haven’t dropped, and I think that’s because we honestly believe we shouldn’t be where we are.

“We have got some quality players in this team – Martin Petrov and Ryo Miyaichi both did great on the wings and we’ve just got to keep that going now.

“I think me and Tim complement each other well. It’s good having a right-footer and a left-footer.

“He has come here and done great, but then when he trained with us before, we knew what a great player he was.”

Although it was his error that led to the goal-that-never-was controversy when Adam Bogdan hooked out Clint Hill’s header from two feet over the line, Wheater reckons it was the brilliance of the keeper’s save that hoodwinked both referee Martin Atkinson and his assistant Bob Pollock.

“It was my man, but it was a great save, though,” he said, praising Bogdan. “He (Atkinson) didn’t allow it because it looked so good.

“I was looking over at the linesman and hoping he wouldn’t give it – but then their goal was offside, so it all evens itself out.”