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If Stoke have a Premier League bogey team, it is undoubtedly Bolton Wanderers. Let’s look at the recent evidence. Last year at the Reebok, Matt Taylor’s injury time penalty grabbed an unlikely point for Wanderers. But the biggest kick in the teeth came at the Brit later in the season, when we let eighty minutes of dominance go to waste as Taylor won the game with two sweet strikes. The reverse fixture this season saw Bolton grab another injury time winner (deserved admittedly) to frustrate Stoke and leave this paranoid fan quivering at the prospect of the jinx striking again this weekend.
Looking at Bolton, I’ve got good reason to be cautious. Blackpool aside, they’re the major success story of the season so far. When manager Owen Coyle left Burnley for the Trotters last year, many felt he’d made an ill-advised sideways move (despite the clubs presence in Europe only a couple of years previously). However he has truly stamped his authority on the club and has a group of players (that he inherited rather than bought) providing some of the most aesthetically pleasing football in the league.
Bolton currently occupy 7th place, the final Europa League spot (unless Arsenal don’t pull their finger out against Ipswich) and a position coveted by about ten teams including Stoke. I’ve already dared to dream about Stoke clinching European football (in between worrying about relegation) but if we’re going to even come close to making that a reality; these are the real must-win games. With the league as tight as it is, Bolton face a real battle over the next couple of months to defend and consolidate the position they hold. On the evidence I’ve seen so far, they look more than ready for the fight.
Teams
I expect Tony Pulis to field a full strength side despite the fact we face an infuriating trip to Cardiff on Tuesday. I don’t mean to devalue the FA Cup but when both managers are desperate to avoid a replay (as Tony Pulis and Dave Jones were), surely dispensation can be made by the ref to carry a game into extra time and penalties instead. New FA ruling maybe? Anyway going back to Saturday and If Sky Sports is to be believed, we may be welcoming Senegalese international Demba Ba to the Potteries at some point today. Having refused to travel with Hoffenheim, Stoke have tabled a 6million bid to take him away from the Bundesliga so expect to hear more about that later. Looking at the regulars we’ve got no new injury concerns so expect to see Matty Etherington and Jermaine Pennant working the wings again, Kenwyne Jones partnering Ric Fuller in attack and Asmir Begovic, Andy Wilkinson and Danny Collins restored to the back five. I repeatedly call for Marc Wilson to start but Dean Whitehead will likely get in ahead of him having been rested last week.
Bolton have a host of regulars missing with Greta Steinsson, Simon Davis and Craig Gardner all injured, while Chung-Yong Lee is away for the Asian Cup. Top scorer Johann Elmander (one of the lost souls Coyle has transformed) and Martin Petrov will both provide major threats, while Gary Cahill and the giant Zat Knight are half of a solid back line Jones will have to penetrate. Matt Taylor needs no introduction to Stoke fans as we’ve seen, and is almost certain to start after his three goals and talismanic influence against us last year.
One to Watch
Kevin Davies: Mr Bolton himself has been the heart and soul of the Wanderers team for nearly a decade now and it’s a shame he was overlooked at international level for so long. A natural goal-scorer happy to drop back when necessary, Bolton are significantly weakened without him.
Prediction
Given our recent pattern of results against Bolton, I’m going for a 1-1 draw; with Davies slamming home a 97th minute penalty equaliser to give them an inevitable share of the points
Category: Stoke Team News
Tags: Bolton, Stoke Team NewsTweet « Match Preview: Stoke City Vs Cardiff City – 08/01/11 15:00 | Home |
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