CHIEF Soccer Writer Gordon Sharrock's exclusive website reports

14:44: SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 2002.

FA BARCLAYCARD PREMIERSHIP

Wanderers V IPSWICH TOWN

SAM Allardyce sprang a couple of selection surprises as Wanderers went in search of the victory that would make them "vurtually safe" and leave Ipswich in grave danger of the drop.

Out went latest loan signing, Greek international Kostas Konstantinidis who was sent off at Everton on Easter Monday in only the second game since his move from Hertha Berlin, and in came Anthony Barness, who did not even make the subs' bench at Goodison.

There was also a recall for Rod Wallace, who was preferred to Dean Holdsworth and Michael Ricketts in a front line partnership with Fredi Bobic.

Jussi Jaaskelainen returned from suspension, as expected and took over in goal from Kevin Poole, who dropped to the subs' bench.

Paul Warhurst was back in midfield in an attacking formation that gave Youri Djorkaeff licence to support the front men.

Ipswich boss George Burley was relieved to see Mark Venus pass a late fitness test on a knee problem and included the former Wolves defender in an unchanged team, buoyed by an improved performance in the Bank Holiday scoreless draw with Chelsea. Again there was no place for last season's top scorer, Marcus Stewart, with Alun Armstrong partnering former Blackburn striker, Marcus Bent.

Wanderers: Jaaskelainen; Barness, N'Gotty, Whitlow, Charlton; Djorkaeff, Nolan, Warhurst, Gardner; Bobic, Wallace. Subs: Frandsen, Holdsworth, Ricketts, Konstantinidis, Poole.

Ipswich: Marshall; Wilnis, McGreal, Venus, Hreidarsson; George, Miller, Holland, Peralta; Bent, Armstrong. Subs: Stewart, Reuser, Clapham, Bramble, Salmon.

Referee: Jeff Winter (Stockton-on-Tees).

15:54: WANDERERS 4, IPSWICH TOWN 0.

Half-time

FREDI Bobic scored a first half hat-trick - the first by any Bolton player in Premiership football - to put Wanderers within touching distance of an incredible survival success.

The German international, recruited on loan from Borussia Dortmund in January and without a goal in nine appearances until he broke his duck a week ago in the victory over Aston Villa, gave a devastating display of finishing to knock the heart out of Ipswich.

He struck in the second, 30th and 38th minutes and had a hand in Wanderers' third from Youri Djorkaeff on 35 minutes.

Ipswich, for whom this was a "must-win" game, could not muster a single shot on target, although it took a timely block by Anthony Barness to prevent Tommy Miller turning in Finidi George's 27th minute cross.

Wanderers lost Paul Warhurst and Ricardo Gardner to injury in the course of their first-half rout but nothing could silence the cheers and chants of a Reebok crowd who sensed Sam Allardyce's side had all-but secured a second season of Premiership football for the first time in three attempts.

WANDERERS 4, IPSWICH TOWN 1:

"THE Whites are staying up!" echoed round the Reebok as a Fredi Bobic hat-trick - the first ever by a Bolton player in Premiership football - helped secure a win that should guarantee Sam Allardyce a place in history.

The man who brought the German international to the Reebok, along with French World Cup winner Youri Djorkaeff - the other goalscorer in the decisive first-half rout - is on course to become the first Bolton manager to secure a second successive season of Premiership football.

Bobic, who scored in the second, 30th and 38th minutes and had a hand in Wanderers' third from Djorkaeff on 35 minutes, left the field to a standing ovation 10 minutes from the end.

Ipswich, who are now six points behind Wanderers with just four games to play, were effectively out of it at half-time and, although they restored a semblance of pride in the second half, they couldn't find a way through a dogged Wanderers defence until the last minute when substitute Jamie Clapham scored their consolation.

Wanderers: Jaaskelainen; Barness, N'Gotty, Whitlow, Charlton; Djorkaeff, Nolan, Warhurst, Gardner; Bobic, Wallace. Subs: Frandsen for Warhurst 23 mins, Ricketts for Gardner 44 mins, Holdsworth for Bobic 80 mins. Not used: Konstantinidis, Poole.

Ipswich: Marshall; Wilnis, McGreal, Venus, Hreidarsson; George, Miller, Holland, Peralta; Bent, Armstrong. Subs: Stewart for George (h-t), Clapham for Peralta (h-t), Bramble for Venus (h-t). Not used: Reuser, Salmon.

Referee: Jeff Winter (Stockton-on-Tees).

Attendance: 25,817.