By Mark Heys
October 25 2005

Bolton will not take tommorow's Carling Cup game lightly as Sam Allardyce is calling for his players to treat the game against West Ham like any Premier League fixture. The Wanderers boss was unfairly criticised for fielding weakened sides in the cup competitions a few years ago but he has promised that the game against the Hammers is just as important as last week's UEFA Cup game at Besiktas.

"We are playing an important game on Wednesday night, The game last Thursday night with Besiktas is probably equal in terms of importance with that game. The only thing in the Uefa Cup at the moment is we can afford a slip up. We can't in the Carling Cup, so we're going into a game we know we must win."

Allardyce has also hinted that he may give another opportunity to Mexican striker Jared Borgetti following his excellent equalising goal in Istanbul last week which gave Wanderers a useful point in their opening game of the UEFA Cup group stages.

"Borgetti is likely to play. He scored an excellent goal and put in the best performance for us since he's been with us at Besiktas. He has of course another opportunity to get used to this country's football as two Premiership sides come together."

"We might not have a big a fan base as we normally do, but we do take it as a first-team fixture there's no question about that."