Can you have a six-pointer in September? Whether or not you can, Bolton have a huge game tomorrow at the Macron. After some admittedly tough home games so far, we take on a Brentford side that, like us, have yet to win a league game this season. Our league performances in the last couple of games have been a bit better, but anything other than a win tomorrow, regardless of performance, will leave lots of questions to be asked. For Brentford, the performances have apparently been there, but no wins for a team that should have been expecting to be in the top half this season is a very poor start to the season. They will also be desperate to break their duck.
Vital Quotes:
“When all my players are back fit we will win games. Everyone is desperate to get that first win but all we can do is make sure our preparation is right and the process towards gaining that three points is right.”
Phil Parkinson in the Bolton News, pinning his hopes on Josh Vela and Sammy Ameobi.
Bolton Wanderers Team News:
Sammy Ameobi is back in full training and could feature on the bench. Josh Vela Is back in light training, but is a while away from a return. Reece Burke and Josh Cullen will both be eligible once again, while Mark Little and Ben Alnwick should be okay after minor knocks. Will Buckley remains injured.
Player to watch: Sammy Ameobi
Has to be Ameobi! There is no chance of him starting, and any involvement tomorrow will be a cameo, but the return of the summer signing will be a huge boost, adding a sense of unpredictability in our attacking, whether it be straight away or in future games.
Brentford Team News:
Brentford made changes for their midweek Carabao Cup loss to Norwich, but will more or less revert to their usual side for the weekend. Sergi Canos and Lasse Vibe are both injury doubts, while Lewis Macleod will definitely miss out.
Player to watch: Ollie Watkins
Watkins was rested in midweek but is one of the big guns expected to be brought back tomorrow. Last season`s EFL Young Player of the Year, he moved from Exeter to Brentford in the summer and has a goal already in the Championship. Generally playing on the left, he is an admirer of Thierry Henry and will look to run at our defence.
Match Facts & Stats
This will be the third time we have welcomed Brentford to the Macron. We won the first game 3-1 in October 2014, Neil Lennon`s first home game in charge, before a 1-1 draw in November 2015.
Failure for Bolton to score would be the sixth game in all competitions without a goal, a new club record.
A defeat tomorrow would be our sixth league loss in a row, a run last encountered between March and April 2016, which involved a loss at Brentford, and relegation at Derby a few days later.
Bolton have lost all four of their home league games so far this season, Brentford only have a single point from their travels, getting a goalless draw at Aston Villa.
Match Prediction:
We`ve got to win, I reckon we do. Expect it in a Swindon away last season type of manner and I`ll take that all day. 1-0 to Bolton.
Next Fixtures:
Two games on the road. We play Bristol City on Tuesday before a trip to Villa next Saturday