NO sooner had Bolton Wanderers shaken off the unwanted "nearly men" tag that had dogged them for the past couple of years then they had gained another unwelcome label - Team Most Likely to Go Back Down.

Sam Allardyce, triumphant at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium yesterday, won't be too surprised and, in truth, neither will too many Bolton fans.

Twice in the 1990's they have seen their side reach climb out of the Nationwide only to return after just a season with the big boys.

The yo-yo tag is justified for the Reebok club - only the stadium is certain to look at home in the Premiership.

On the field that's where the questions start and the bookies don't look too hasty in their judgement.

Colin Hendry and Gudni Bergsson have forged a fine partnership at the heart of the Bolton defence.

Bergsson has yet to make up his mind about whether he will continue his career or take up the law job in his native Iceland that he threatened to last summer.

Even if he stays both he and Hendry are 35 and the pace of the top flight is certain to be a major test.

Both full-backs Anthony Barness and Simon Charlton are honest professionals but whether they can make the step up is certain to be a

concern.

In midfield Gareth Farrelly has been effective and Ricardo Gardner a truly exciting prospect but Per Frandsen has not been the same player since his return from Ewood Park and Kevin Nolan is still learning his craft.

Paul Warhurst and Robbie Elliott have been no strangers to the physio's room, something which has dogged the fragile pair all their career Up front Dean Holdsworth has finally won over the fans but is out of contract, while Michael Ricketts has fantastic potential but has yet to look as dangerous when he starts a game as when he comes on late on to torment tired legs.

So while victory at Cardiff will mean television millions for Allardyce to invest he will have to be very shrewd when it comes to adding to his squad.

Just how much he will have to spend is another question.

Bolton invested heavily on their last Premier League visit. The policy almost paid off with Colin Todd's men only going down on the final day of the season on goal difference.

But the millstone of Premier League wages paid to a Nationwide League team that was then watched by dwindling crowds meant that in recent

months Bolton have had to sell simply to survive.

The forthcoming Premier League season would be a little more appealing if the likes of Gudjohnsen, Jensen and Fish were still on the Reebok scene.

That they aren't and Allardyce has still delivered promotion speaks volumes for his abilities, both tactically and in the transfer market.

And Big Sam will be the most crucial figure if Bolton are to succeed next season.

But everyone who has tried it will tell you that beating the bookies is never easy.

Play it again Big Sam.