COLIN Todd's leadership qualities will be put to the sternest of tests this week as he tries to steer Wanderers through their crisis of confidence.

The Reebok boss accepted full responsibility for the crushing 5-1 home defeat by relegation rivals Coventry and knows he faces a mammoth task to raise spirits for Saturday's Old Trafford derby.

"Everyone looks to me as the leader," he acknowledged, "and I have to make sure I act as the leader."

Wanderers' worst defeat at the Reebok was their heaviest home defeat since crashing 6-0 to Manchester United in February 1996 when they were heading for relegation from the Premiership last time round.

With Barnsley, Spurs and Crystal Palace all losing at the weekend, the defeat didn't cost them too much ground in the relegation zone but, with only 14 games left and having taken only three points from eight games, the alarm bells are ringing again.

Todd has admitted that time and games are running out but he sees no reason to draw parallels with the 95-96 campaign. "I don't want to dwell on what happened two seasons ago," he insists. "It's what we are doing now that matters. But I will defend the players because, as manager of the club, it is my responsibility.

"It's all right people saying results went for us but it's how we do ourselves and how we respond to a defeat like that that counts.

"I'll make sure they don't lie down but it's knocked the stuffing out of us. Before Saturday we've got to look at ourselves and I must make sure we are well prepared for that game."

Todd specifically shouldered the blame for not having worked long enough on the training ground organising the defence of Coventry's corners - a well-known aspect of the Sky Blues' game and one which delivered three of their five goals.

He also admitted he may have been wrong not to have played Mark Fish, who returned from international duty with South Africa last midweek and has now retured to Africa to compete in the Cup of Nations.

"He's been away, come back and now he's gone off for another three weeks or so," Todd explained. "It's something I have got to put up with as a manager because he has his international commitments. But I felt the team I put out was the best one for the job.

"I may have been wrong!

"But I could not have envisaged what went on out there on Saturday. At 1-1 there was only going to be one winner. But we made mistakes and couldn't defend set plays and I thought we were above all that."

And in a general assessment of his team's problems as they strive to stay in the Premiership, the manager admitted: "We find it difficult to score goals but concede them very easily."

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