BOLTON Wanderers go into tomorrow's Old Trafford derby determined to prove their doubters wrong - especially their own fans.

"Everybody is writing us off, including our own people," Colin Todd acknowledged today. "And not only against Manchester United.

"They've also written us off in terms of escaping the drop. But, in both cases, we want it badly enough and I believe we can spring a surprise or two."

Wanderers go into the game against the Champions and current Premiership leaders, desperately needing to rebuild the confidence that was shattered by the crushing 5-1 home defeat by relegation rivals Coventry that left them with just three points from a spirit-sapping eight game run. They will be bolstered in midfield by the return of Alan Thompson after a two-match suspension but there are serious doubts over the availability of skipper Gudni Bergsson and goalkeeper Keith Branagan.

Bergsson, available again after a two-match ban, has aggravated a groin problem while Branagan needed an injection to help ease a back problem after pulling out of yesterday's training session. Gavin Ward is on standby with Finland international Jussi Jaaskelainen earmarked for a place on the bench.

With Mark Fish (South Africa) and Arnar Gunnlaugsson (Iceland) on international duty, Greg Strong (Blackpool), Scott Taylor (Rotherham) and Bryan Small (Bury) out on loan, and Robbie Elliott, Gerry Taggart and Mike Whitlow long-term casualties, Wanderers face the prospect of being down to the bare bones of their professional squad for a fixture supporters see as one of the season's highlights and which has taken on even greater significance in the light of the team's precarious position.

Nevertheless, the manager was philosophical and characteristically positive as he counted heads and considered his team selection.

"Saturday was a humiliation for us all," he admitted. "But that's out of our systems now. The chips are down and, as professionals, it's up to use to restore our pride and where better to do that than Manchester United?

"We bounced back from a similar setback at Sheffield Wednesday earlier in the season and, if we can produce the sort of performance that earned us a draw against United at the Reebok, we'll be okay.

"I know how supporters treat this game and we don't want to be on the end of anything like we experienced last week any more than they do.

"Every game from now on will throw up a different kind of battle for us, simply because of the position we are in. This is only the biggest battle in my eyes because it's our next game.

"I know what people will be saying: it's Manchester United, the Champions and the top of the table and we are down at the other end. But all of that can go out of the window because it's a derby game."

Record signing Dean Holdsworth suffered no ill-effects after his 75-minute runout in the reserves on Tuesday but Todd refused to be drawn on whether the striker will start his first game for two months, saying only: "He is in the squad."

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