The league's bottom club take on fellow strugglers Sunderland tonight then follow that encounter with matches against newly-promoted pair Birmingham and West Brom.

'These are no-lose games, rather than must-win games,'' said Bolton boss Allardyce. 'That is something we should have in our minds. If we get a win that will be great.

'But we have got to get something and that starts with having a clean sheet. If we come off the field having achieved that then we've got at least one point. We have to try and get a minimum of 10 clean sheets this season. At the moment we have got only two.

'We have scored in every Premiership game bar one but we are leaking too many goals. That's what we have to stop. We know we have to get better that way. If we concentrate we will be all right.''

Allardyce expects much the same pattern of play from Sunderland even though his good friend Peter Reid has been replaced as manager by Howard Wilkinson. The former Football Association technical director's first game in charge ended in a 1-0 defeat by West Ham.

Allardyce said: 'I always used to think Peter and his team were high tempo. I don't think that will change too much. Howard won't know his best team at Sunderland yet so he might be trying players in positions that Peter wouldn't have done.

'If that is the case, hopefully it won't pay off for him.''

Allardyce is threatening to ring the changes after the defeat by Tottenham at White Hart Lane. Bolton have now won only two of their opening games and are facing a long, hard winter.

French defender Bruno N'Gotty and midfielder Paul Warhurst could return to the side after suffering calf and hamstring injuries respectively. Both players came through a reserve game last week without any problems.

Allardyce said: 'I am still thinking down the line that changes will have to be made. I have quite a few permutations to play with but I have the basis of the team in my mind.