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STELIOS knows he will not be around to reap the rewards, but, wherever he ends up, he could have the satisfaction of knowing he has left a priceless legacy at the Reebok.

The Greece international has long known that he will be surplus to requirements come the end of the season. He made that patently clear with his guarded post-match comments at White Hart Lane on Saturday night.

Nevertheless, he believes Wanderers belong in the Premiership and the goal he poached with his first touch might yet turn out to be just enough to keep them there.

They're still sweating and even victory over Sunderland at the Reebok on Saturday might not be quite enough to secure an eighth successive season of top-flight football. God forbid that they have to go to Chelsea a week on Sunday needing a result to survive: memories of 1998 and all that, plus the unpalatable prospect of a certain Nicolas Anelka playing a part in their downfall!

But the fact that they are still in with a shout after looking washed up three weeks ago following their 4-0 humiliation at Villa Park, is a remarkable enough feat in itself. Successive wins against West Ham and Middlesbrough and the unlikeliest of points in North London - Steed Malbranque's 52nd minute equaliser was the least Spurs deserved - means they at least have their destiny in their own hands.

Stelios, tipped to return to his native Greece in the summer, can only hope. He reckons Wanderers have to play as if their very lives depend on it against Sunderland, and then hope for the best.

"We hope to take those three points and stay in the league," he said in a stern-faced reaction, considering the significance of his contribution at White Hart Lane.

"This team deserves to play in the Premier League. It is not for the Championship.

"Bolton is good for the Premier League and we have to stay. We must stay."

Stelios, who played such a key role in Wanderers' success after arriving from Olympiakos in May 2003, has been relegated to the role of bit-part player this season, making just a single league start. And, although he had previously chipped in with three significant goals - a League Cup winner in extra-time at Fulham, a dramatic UEFA Cup face-saver against Aris Salonika and a last-gasp winner at home to Derby in the Premiership in January - he still couldn't hide his frustration, even though he refused to discuss it.

All he is concerned with now is making the most of any chance that comes his way - as he did 24 seconds into the second half after being thrown on, along with El-Hadji Diouf, in a double substitution that paid instant dividends for Gary Megson.

Diouf, on for the ineffective Grzegorz Rasiak, was involved in the build up before Gretar Steinsson crossed for Stelios to pounce in a goalmouth scramble.

"I'm always ready," he said, "It's always up to the manager. It's his decision, he is the manager of the club and we are the players. We have to obey, whatever he commands and he told us to warm up at half time - me and Dioufy - to save the team. And I think we did that, both of us.

"It was a very important goal for the team. To be honest, I didn't think it would get us the three points because Tottenham are a very good team and we were lucky to take the point. But it was a very important point and we were very happy, it was a great result for us.

"But then the mood in the dressing room was hot and cold because we saw that the other results didn't go so well for us.

"This means we have to play for our lives against Sunderland."

There was no change to the placings at the bottom of the table, with Reading managing a scoreless draw at Wigan and Birmingham drawing 2-2 with Liverpool "Reserves" at St Andrews. But Fulham's remarkable comeback from two down to win 3-2 at Manchester City, put them back in the mix, turning their game at home to Birmingham on Saturday into a potentially decisive fixture alongside Reading's home game against Spurs.

That Wanderers actually managed to keep themselves out of the bottom three was a remarkable achievement in itself, considering they were so alarmingly outplayed.

Stelios's strike was just one of three goal attempts they had all afternoon - their only one on target - while the home side racked up 18.

But a combination of good luck - Dmitar Berbatov missed by inches with a free header in the final minute - dogged defending, and another impressive performance by Ali Al-Habsi kept the survival bandwagon rolling.

With Malbranque, Robbie Keane and Darren Bent all missing match-winning chances it was a point gained more by good luck than judgment against a Spurs side that had nothing to play for. But credit Wanderers for having the character to make the most of their good fortune.

They were poor in possession and, consequently, were rarely in any position to take the game to Spurs. Even when they went in front, they didn't look capable of winning it, such was the gulf in class and the pace and potency of the attack they were up against.

Nevertheless, they produced another gutsy performance that begs the question: where would they be today if they'd shown the same spirit when they had opportunities to get a foothold in the comfort of mid-table?

It was ugly at times; every bit as ugly as it was in those first two Premiership seasons under Sam Allardyce. But it was, ultimately, effective.

Gavin McCann, match-winner at Middlesbrough, showed again how tireless determination can be a match for big reputations, while Andy O'Brien and Gary Cahill impressively stood up to the 45-goal partnership of Berbatov and Keane.

The fact that injured duo Jussi Jaaskelainen and Ricardo Gardner and the suspended Kevin Davies were watching from the sidelines indicated just how big a handicap Megson is working under. There were more problems with the unfortunate Joey O'Brien limping off 20 minutes into his comeback and Ivan Campo withdrawing at half time with a calf injury.

No wonder the Wanderers boss felt the need to kick every ball and make every challenge while constantly barking orders to his players in a touchline performance that left him physically and emotionally drained.

"I don't know how people in this situation just stand there all cool, calm and collected," he said.

"I've never been able to and probably never will.

"I've not got a squad of 28 international players who can just go on and be left to do what they want. We're not that kind of club and I've never been in that luxurious position. They do need driving, they do need organising.

"I look at myself and I don't like how I behave, but you look at what needs organising and sorting out and, if I have to shout, I have shout."

8:43am Monday 28th April 2008

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