Bolton head to the Hawthorns on Saturday looking to make it back-t0-back wins against a West Brom side who have a serious problem scoring goals at home.
Roy Hodgson’s men have failed to replicate the form that saw them shake off their notorious yo-yo tag and finally prove that they are capable of making an impression in the Premier League. The former Liverpool boss’ arrival in February was credited as a turning point for the club with the Hodgson providing some vital inspiration and experience to guide the Baggies to within inches of a top-half finish. However the current campaign has been far from positive with three wins in their 11 games so far and some seriously drab performances with their home form proving the most alarming of all. The Hawthrons faithful have had to endure three defeats in their five home fixtures with the Baggies managing only one win and three goals on their own turf. Their struggles to find the net at home haven’t been helped by injuries to last season’s top scorer Peter Odemwingie and record signing Shane Long with understudies Simon Cox and Marc Antoine Fortune failing to adequately step into to replace the pair. At one point, however, it did look like Hodgson’s men were turning a corner with a run of four games without defeat which included a morale boosting win away at Midland’s rivals Aston Villa. Unfortunately they slipped back into old habits although failing to put up so much as a fight against Liverpool and Arsenal before the international break. The well travelled Hodgson will need to get his team working in tandem and scoring goals at home if they are to steer themselves clear of the dreaded drop zone.
Moving clear of the bottom three is the only task on Bolton boss Owen Coyle’s mind after watching his side dismantle Stoke at the Reebok Stadium a fortnight ago. The Trotters finally buried the ghost of their FA Cup Semi Final defeat to the Potters – seen as the catalyst for their poor start to the season – smashing five past them without reply. It was only their third win since the opening day of the season with Coyle seeing his side slip to eight defeats in nine games since then. That dreadful run of form saw the club slide down the table and into the relegation zone which was a position many tipped them to be well clear of coming into the festive period. Injuries to key players haven’t helped Bolton whilst a run of games against five of last season’s top six was always going to be difficult. New signings like Chris Eagles, Darren Prately, Nigel Re0-Coker and David N’Gog took a while to get going but have now fully integrated themselves into the side and all four played a part in their first home win of the season. Eagles in particular was the star of the show scoring twice and dictating the play displaying the sort of game winning talent that Sir Alex Ferguson saw in him as a youth at Manchester United. Should the Trotters emerge victorious from this one it will be the first time they have managed consecutive wins in the Premier League this season and will move them out of the drop zone.
West Brom – 14th
Last Five
Lost 3-0 v Arsenal (A), Lost 2-0 v Liverpool (H), Won 2-1 v Aston Villa (A), Won 2-0 v Wolves (H), Drew 2-2 v Sunderland (A)
Potential Starting X11
1. B. Foster 12. S. Reid 3. J. Olsson 23. G. McCauley 20. N. Shorey 14. J. Thomas 21. Y. Mulumbu 7. J. Morrison 11. C. Brunt[C]* 17. G. Dorrans 31. S. Cox
Injury News
Albion are without three of their key players with strikers Peter Odemwingie and Shane Long ruled out with knee injuries along with Austrian Paul Scharner who is suffering from a similar problem
Key Player
Chris Brunt – It’s been a rather dull start to the season from the Baggie’s inspirational skipper and now is the time for Brunt to stand up and be counted. Brunt has the ability to turn the game on it’s head with one swing of that deadly left foot although it hasn’t been seen as regularly this season. Should he have his focus and feet finely tuned on Saturday he could cause havoc for the Bolton defence.
Match Fact
Goals have been hard to come by at the Hawthorns this season and the Baggies will need to start scoring if they are to secure all three points having won only once in 10 games against a visiting Bolton side.
Bolton – 18th
Last Five
Won 5-0 v Stoke (H), Lost 3-1 v Swansea (A), Lost 2-1 v Arsenal (A) Lost 2-0 v Sunderland (H), Won 3-1 v Wigan (A)
Potential Starting X11
22. J. Jaaskelainen 39. J. Riley 5. G. Cahill 31. D. Wheater 4. P. Robinson 7. C. Eagles* 6. F. Muamba 19. N. Reo Coker 11. M. Petrov 17. I. Klasnic 14. K. Davies [C]
Injury News
On loan Manchester City fullback Dedryck Boyata is the only injury concern for Coyle with the five other players in the treatment room unlikely to return until next year.
Key Player
Chris Eagles – After a slow start to his career at the Reebok Eagle’s has emerged from the shadows in recent weeks turning in some splendid performances much to the delight of his manager. The former Manchester United winger has finally started to display the promise that many saw in him during his early days with his two goals last week showing his intelligence and composure in front of goal.
Match Fact
The Trotters enjoy their trips to the Midlands and will be expecting to pick up some valuable points on the road once again having managed to avoid defeat in three out of the last four Premier League fixtures at the Hawthorns.
Last Time at The Hawthorns
Premier League 2nd October 2010
West Brom 1-1 Bolton
Elmander, 64
Morrison, 78
Attendance: 22,846
Referee: Peter Walton
PREDICTION
Bolton have had a dreadful start to the season but have picked up most of their points on the road and will be confident of taking something away from the Hawthorns. West Brom have real issues playing in front of their own fans and it’s imperative that they start picking up points on home soil if they want to avoid being sucked towards the bottom of the table. This weeks visitors are on a high after their recent victory and the Baggies will need to be on their game if they are to avoid another home defeat.
Score: 1-1
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