COLIN Todd is an old hand when it comes to last day drama - and Bolton fans would expect nothing other than a nerve-jangling promotion or relegation decider to bring the curtain down on another fascinating season. In 1993 they won promotion to Division One on the last day, two years later they won the Play-Off Final, in 1996 they went down and last season they were celebrating the First Division title. And Bolton boss Todd will be hoping to put that experience to good use when Wanderers attempt a dramatic last day relegation escape at Chelsea. Wanderers' quest for Premiership survival is in their own hands - Everton must do better at home to Coventry than Bolton do at Stamford Bridge. It's a type of nerve-tingling, nail-biting situation which Todd remembers well from his days at the helm at Middlesbrough and, although he hopes the outcome will prove to be the same he admits the circumstances are entirely different. ''When I took over as manager at Boro we had 13 games to claw our way out of relegation danger and it went all the way to the last game of the season," Todd says. "We had to beat Newcastle at home and that was some challenge. We did, ending up beating them 4-2. I suppose it helps that I've been through this sort of thing before but it has no bearing on the current situation. ''It's an entirely different set of circumstances and although we've come through a great deal it's important to note that we've finally put ourselves in the position where survival lies with what we do rather than us relying on others. We've got to go out and win, we can't rely on Everton losing." With five wins from nine games and Chelsea with one eye on the European Cup Winners' Cup Final three days on, Bolton are being listed as survival favourites all they need to do is match Everton's result. Chelsea boss Gianluca Vialli believes that a tough game against a desperate team is good preparation for the Cup Final because it gets his players sharp and focused on the grand finale to their impressive season. He'll be without Gianfranco Zola and Frank Sinclair with groin injuries, while Dennis Wise (toe), Michael Duberry (ankle), Graeme Le Saux (calf) and Andy Myers (back) are all doubts. Mark Hughes could play in what is expected to be his last home game for Chelsea before leaving in the summer, possibly for Bolton. Chelsea are expecting to bring in Lazio's Pierluigi Casiraghi to join Brian Laudrup in attack next season. Todd, meanwhile, has few options up front. Record buy Dean Holdsworth is almost certainly ruled out so Todd is keeping his fingers crossed that Bob Taylor, due to complete a second spell on loan from West Brom, recovers from a hamstring strain to partner Nathan Blake. If Bolton fail to survive, they will look back with horror at a key moment at Goodison Park on December 28th: Gerry Taggart's header clearly crossed the Everton goal-line but no goal was given. The game ended in a 0-0 draw. Expect Bolton to lead calls for a third referee next season.

HEAD-TO-HEAD DI MATTEO & THOMPSON   ROBERTO Di Matteo - Italian international superstar, flashy West End style merchant, man about town in the Kings Road; Alan Thompson rejected by Newcastle as a teenager, for so long a second grade footballer and tied to a long contract. They seem a world apart but the midfielders who expect to clash - literally in the centre-circle at Stamford Bridge on Sunday are not all they seem. Look at the facts and it is Thompson, not Di Matteo, who appears to be the top European star and key man for the World Cup. Thompson will watch the action in France from his Lancashire home but by the start of next season, he could be a £5m arrival at any of the Premiership's top clubs. That all depends on whether he can do enough to keep Bolton in the top flight against Chelsea but if he continues his current form, Di Matteo will have his work cut out. 'Tommo' is renowned for his fierce long-range shooting and he has hit the target nearly three times as often as Di Matteo on his way to twice as many goals this season. He's also provided 108 crosses compared to the Italian's 73 if only Bolton had some strikers to convert more of them. While the duo match each other run for run, Di Matteo's passing is mildly better but it is in the defensive department, making and winning more tackles, and twice as many interceptions, that the former Lazio star's superiority shines through. But going forward, Geordie Thompson is at least in the same league as Di Matteo and, at this rate, he should get the chance to show his international credentials some time next season. Di Matteo Thompson Minutes On Pitch 2420 2768 Goal Attempts Goals 4 8 Shots On Target 11 28 Shots Off Target 29 37 Blocked Shots 13 16 Passing Goal Assists 4 7 Total Passes 1288 1326 Pass Completion % 84 78 Crossing Total Crosses 73 108 Cross Completion % 32 35 Dribbling Dribbles & Runs 81 88 Dribble Completion % 72 75 Defending Tackles Made 99 81 Tackles Won % 72 65 Blocks 7 5 Clearances 23 28 Interceptions 33 17 Discipline Fouls 48 38 Offside 4 5 Yellow Cards 6 7 Red Cards 0 1

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