DEAN Ashton believes Bolton can take their lead from West Ham's great Premier League escape last season.

The Hammers won their last four games, including victory on the final day at Old Trafford, to avoid dropping into the Championship.

Wanderers also have four matches left after beating Ashton's side 1-0 at the Reebok last Saturday, including a final fixture of the campaign at potential champions Chelsea, and the former Crewe striker said: "We don't envy the position Bolton are in.

"No-one thought we could do it last season. But we did, so it's not out of Bolton's reach. They've got the players.

"The club is all set up for the Premier League. The stadium is fantastic and it would be a great shame if they went down. But this league doesn't take any prisoners.

"Bolton are fighting for their lives, but they can still stay up, of course they can."

Wanderers travel to Middlesbrough on Saturday looking for victory that could lift them out of the bottom three.

Kevin Davies' 100th career goal against West Ham and results elsewhere have dragged Reading into the relegation equation. Indeed, if Bolton can gain their first win at the Riverside since February 1996 and the Royals lose at Arsenal, Gary Megson's team will be out of the bottom three.

Irish international Joey O'Brien could return after missing the West Ham game with a hamstring problem.

Skipper Kevin Nolan will also be fit.

He was signalling to be substituted in the last few minutes last Saturday but not through injury.

"I was feeling my legs," admits Nolan who had missed the previous two games through suspension.

"I had worked my socks off to make sure I was right for the game."

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