Wanderers were hit by a bolt out of the blue today when midfielder Andy Todd was banned for three games.

Todd was reported to the FA for swearing at referee Kevin Lynch in the 2-2 draw at West Brom on December 8.

Todd was not booked during the game but the FA brought a misconduct charge against the 22 years old player.

That was upheld and Todd, also fined £250, will miss the games against Sheffield United, Huddersfield and the return with Albion.

Todd is currently out of action with his ankle in plaster after tendon damage.

Meanwhile Todd senior, Burnden boss Colin, is refusing to set targets that will add to the pressure on his promotion chasing Wanderers.

Todd has seen his runaway leaders storm 12 points clear in the race for the Premiership. Saturday's victory over Birmingham, their seventh successive league win, underlined their championship potential and left them comfortably in control of their own destiny.

They are in sight of the finishing line but Todd refuses to even discuss a points target that would allow them to relax.

"There are enough pressures on the team without adding to them," he insisted.

"All we're doing is concentrating on the next game, which happens to be tomorrow's FA Cup tie against Chesterfield. We can't afford to look any further ahead than that."

The points gap plus a vastly superior goal power gives Wanderers an overwhelming lead over their rivals but they are determined to keep their feet on the ground with tough games still to come and Nathan Blake's suspension likely to hit them hard, regardless of their efforts to sign a replacement.

All Todd is prepared to say is: "The other teams will look at Saturday's result and say 'Oh, not again!' But nothing is won with 15 games still to be played.

"We can't do any more than we are doing. We know we are playing well and we are a good side but we will continue to take each game as it comes. That might sound repetitious but it's the only way to be."

Todd embraced the Burnden fans as he prepared for a seven-match home run that could provide the points to put Wanderers in the Premiership.

"The supporters will play an important part in the games to come," he predicted.

"They've been tremendous all season but we're going to need them behind us more than ever now, especially when teams try to frustrate us." We want to play to the top of our form but we won't always be able to produce the fluency we all know we are capable of.

"That's when the fans will come into their own. The game might go quiet but the crowd can help if they make sure their vocal support doesn't drop." TWO tough games in four days have taken their toll leaving Wanderers with doubts over the fitness of Gudni Bergsson, Alan Thompson, John McGinlay, Scott Sellars and Chris Fairclough.

Bolton coach Phil Brown said: "We have had all the evils come at once, but they are all little niggles rather than anything serious."

Thompson, McGinlay and Bergsson, who has been suffering from a hamstring for the last couple of games, could sit out the cup clash.

John Sheridan, the subject of bogus injury reports last week, and David Lee are on standby to be drafted into the squad to face Chesterfield, who warmed up for the fourth round clash with a 1-0 win at Preston.

The incentive of a home tie against Nottingham Forest should be all the motivation they need but John Duncan's side is renowned for its stubborn streak and is unlikely to prove a pushover.

Blake will play his final game before he starts a suspension that currently stands at two games but could be stretched to five if he is unsuccessful in his appeal against his sending off at Stoke.

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