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Premier League Preview: Bolton Wanderers - Everton
Injury-hit Toffees look to steady the ship after Benfica thrashing…
| Bet: | Returns: | Bolton £19.50 | Draw £34.00 | Wigan Athletic £37.50 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | Bolton £20.50 | Draw £33.00 | Wigan Athletic £36.00 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | Bolton £20.50 | Draw £34.00 | Wigan Athletic £36.00 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | Bolton £20.00 | Draw £35.00 | Wigan Athletic £37.50 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | Bolton £20.50 | Draw £35.50 | Wigan Athletic £38.50 |
|
Oct 24, 2009 4:00:37 PM
Saturday, October 25, Kick-off: 13:30 BST
Reebok Stadium, Bolton
Reebok Stadium, Bolton
Bolton Wanderers currently lie 13th in the Premier League table, which is apt as their manager Gary Megson is one of those men who seems to have little luck in football.
No matter how good a job Megson does – and he has done a undeniably decent job since taking over from Sammy Lee in 2007 – many of Bolton's fans have simply not warmed to him.
This week, Megson talked up his achievements at the Reebok, perhaps fed up that no one else was doing it on his behalf.
He told The Bolton News: "While it might sound like I'm blowing my own trumpet, if most people had been in charge of Bolton under the same circumstances and in the same conditions, then this club would now be in the Championship or bankrupt."
While it's impossible to judge if Megson is right, it's certain that he has managed to keep Bolton on an even keel, and without overspending. In some ways, perhaps Bolton's fans should accept their place – at the moment, they are too good to go down but not good enough to challenge the established 'big four'. Still, there is nothing so bad about being a competitive, mid-level Premier League club.
Everton, meanwhile, do have a good enough squad to challenge for a place in Europe, even if they have made a relatively slow start to the new campaign – though it's worth pointing out they had an even worse start last season and ended up in a creditable fifth place – and now are in the midst of an injury crisis.
Worryingly for manager David Moyes, the Everton physio room is almost as busy as the training pitch – the Toffees were without 11 first-teamers for the fruitless trip to Benfica in midweek, which resulted in an embarrassing 5-0 defeat.
Moyes can take heart though from Everton's excellent recent record against the Trotters – Bolton have won just two of their last ten meetings, and have failed to score in each of their last three encounters.
All the signs point to a very tight, low-scoring match. No seven-goal thriller, this.
FORM GUIDE
Bolton
Oct 17: Man Utd 2-1 Bolton
Oct 3: Bolton 2-2 Tottenham
Sep 26: Birmingham 1-2 Bolton
Sep 22: Bolton 3-1 West Ham
Sep 19: Bolton 1-1 Stoke
Everton
Oct 22: Benfica 5-0 Everton
Oct 17: Everton 1-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Oct 4: Everton 1-1 Stoke
Oct 1: BATE 1-2 Everton
Sep 26: Portsmouth 0-1 Everton
TEAM NEWS
Bolton
Striker Johan Elmander has a hamstring injury and is doubtful for Sunday, while Andy O'Brien should be available after recovering from a groin strain.
Sean Davis and Joey O'Brien are both still out with knee injuries.
Last starting XI in Premier League (v Man Utd): Jaaskelainen, Samuel, Cahill, Knight, Ricketts, Muamba, Taylor, Gardner, Cohen, Lee, Davies.
Everton
David Moyes's squad is down to the bare bones, but at least he can count on the return of defenders John Hetinga and Lucas Neill, both of whom were ineligible to play against Benfica on Thursday.
Diniyar Bilyaletdinov did play in Portugal but suffered a groin strain and was replaced after 60 minutes. He has since had a scan on the injury and is rated doubtful to start.
Last starting XI in Premier League (v Wolves): Howard, Hibbert, Baines, Yobo, Heitinga, Distin, Bilyaletdinov, Cahill, Osman, Rodwell, Saha.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Bolton
Israeli midfielder Tamir Cohen (the son of former Liverpool player Avi Cohen) has enjoyed a fine start to the season, and is currently Bolton's joint-top scorer, with three goals. Cohen's stock is rising fast, and Everton will be wary of his well-timed runs into the box.
Everton
Lucas Neill is set to make his Premier League debut for Everton. For David Moyes, the timing couldn't be better – with so many injuries to contend with, the versatile Australian defender will bring much-needed experience to the Toffees' team-sheet.
PREDICTION
Bolton 1-1 Everton
Ollie Irish, Goal.com UK
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