Sam Allardyce has put Bolton Wanderers' winning run down to the
purple patch being enjoyed by Nicolas Anelka.
The striker was a club record signing from Fenerbahce in August,
but failed to score in his first 10 Premiership appearances.
He has since scored six goals in his last seven matches, while
Bolton have won four games in a row to move into the UEFA Champions
League places.
Allardyce has been delighted with Anelka's form all season, but is
even happier now the France international has hit the goal
trail.
"The important thing was the form was growing all the time, but
there wasn't the goals to go with it," Allardyce told Sky Sports
News.
"Now the goals have come in abundance and I think that it's no
coincidence we bought him to score goals and when he started doing
it he's won us the Arsenal game, he's won us the Manchester City
game and he's won us the Newcastle game."
Allardyce will be anxious for Anelka to maintain his current form
as the club chase an unlikely spot in the Champions League.
With games against fellow top-six sides Portsmouth and Liverpool
next up, Allardyce is aware of the significance of the coming
days.
He added: "I think they can massively boost the confidence of the
players based on the two teams we're playing and where they're
based in the league.
"It's coincidence that has brought us together in a short space of
time.
"They are our nearest rivals and because we're playing them we can
put some distance between us and them."
