PRE-SEASON defeats at the hands of Spanish sides Alaves and Athletic Bilbao combined with a summer of frustration in the transfer market have done little to suggest that Bolton might make the bookies eat their words.

Favourites for the drop from the moment they beat Preston in the play-offs to clinch promotion, Bolton go to Leicester City tomorrow determined to try and prove people wrong.

But having spent just £650,000 -- striker Henrik Pedersen who came from Danish side Silkeborg -- and taken two players on season long loans, midfielder Djibril Diawara and striker Akinori Nishizawa, manager Sam Allardyce looks to be facing a very tall order if he is to steer his men away from a bottom three slot come April.

Allardyce saw bids to land Paris St Germain defender Sylvain Distin and Strasbourg striker Pegguy Luyindula hit the rocks this week.

"Give me £20m-£30m any day and we'll give you a foundation for staying in the Premier League," said Allardyce.

"But we're not in a position to do that and, until we've completely resolved our financial problems, we're not likely to move into that £10m and £20 spending bracket, which we did before and are now still recovering from."

Instead Allardyce will have to rely on passion and commitment from his squad, who boast plenty of experience.

Dean Holdsworth's injured knee passed a test in a reserve outing at Bradford City this week when he scored twice but that was his only pre-season work and he is likely to have to settle for a place on the bench.