Allardyce issues Anelka alert

27 december 2006, 09:20

Koen Freriks

Bolton manager Sam Allardyce warned defenders to beware Nicolas Anelka after his second match-winning performance in four days saw off Newcastle 2-1.

The Frenchman blasted home a 57th-minute goal to end the Magpies' hopes of gaining a result at the Reebok Stadium. Anelka scored two against former club Manchester City on Saturday to take his total for the season to seven and he is now justifying both his manager's faith and his 8million price tag.

Allardyce said: "I always notice a difference when a goalscorer begins to score regularly. There was a little bit of pressure on us all when we had the phase where we were creating chances and he was not scoring. All of a sudden he has turned that around. That is seven now and we have only had one scorer over 10 (goals), which was way back with Michael Ricketts."