Todd tells Bolton not to get carried away

NATIONWIDE LEAGUE

Colin Todd has told his team not to get carried away by their position at the top of the First Division table. The Bolton manager issued words of caution before today's match with Stoke City at Burnden Park. The Lancastrians have lost only once in eight League games.

"We've made a very good start - but that's all it is," Todd said, whose side will be cheered on by an all-ticket crowd approaching 18,000. "We need to do it consistently over a longer period to achieve our goal of promotion this season."

Nathan Blake, the striker who scored just once in 18 appearances for Bolton in the Premiership, has already been on target eight times this season.

Bolton's neighbours Manchester City travel to Sheffield United, who are managed by the former City boss Howard Kendall, who snubbed City's recent approach after Alan Ball was sacked last month.

"After that dismal night against Stockport [Sheffield lost 5-2 in the Coca-Cola Cup] a big match occasion like this is just what we need," said Kendall who admitted that his side's collapse was "one of the worst nights of my life''.

Dave Bassett, who also turned down the job at Maine Road, is hoping his Crystal Palace team maintain their goalscoring form when Southend visit Selhurst Park. Palace have scored nine times in their last two league outings - including a 6-1 win at Reading last week.

QPR, who had six players under the age of 23 in the Coca-Cola Cup defeat by Swindon in midweek, face an experienced Birmingham side that will include Steve Bruce, Barry Horne and Mike Newell at St Andrews.