A year ago Wanderers gained just two points out of a possible twelve in their opening four matches conceding ten goals in the process and Big Sam is all to aware of the need to make a good start this time around.
"If we don't deliver early in the season then we are going to be deemed as relegation fodder again, which is something we want to avoid," he said.
"We must not start as badly as we have in the last two seasons, picking up eight points in the first 10 games. That's relegation-fodder material. It's always catch up from there."
Only after two mind crushing defeats in the autumn against Manchester City and Birmingham City last season did the Wanderers form start to pick up with November in particular being a good month for the Trotters who eventually finished in 8th place.