On Sky
Well, I get a second draft at writing this preview as we were stupid and switched off our laptop. Aren`t you lucky? It`s all change for Wanderers – after a two-week break, losing our best player, and a number of new signings yesterday, we welcome GIF-merchants and occasional football team Bristol City to the Macron tomorrow. With a lot of people unhappy over yesterday`s events, a positive result tomorrow would not go amiss.
Vital Quotes:
“The players we`ve brought in will bring quality to the squad. We now need to find a system and style that suits us and wins football matches.”
Phil Parkinson in his presser.
Bolton Wanderers Team News:
All our new signings are available, although one loanee must be left out of the matchday 18. Aaron Wilbraham and David Wheater are injury doubts, while Darren Pratley is still out.
Player to watch: Zach Clough
Along with Reece Burke, probably the ones that will have most chance of starting tomorrow, due to their familiarity with the team. It`s also nice to see Clough back and hoping he can kick-start his career once again with us.
Bristol City Team News:
Bristol City are without Nathan Baker, serving a suspension after a sending-off against QPR last weekend. Tomorrow is probably too soon for Gary O`Neil, while Matty Taylor (not our ex-player) is definitely out with a hernia.
Player to watch: Aden Flint
Had interest from other clubs of late but ended the window still at Ashton Gate. He`ll be a threat in both boxes having scored six goals this season. He`s not far away from 200 appearances for Bristol City too.
Match Facts & Stats
Wanderers have won just one of their last four against these, a 3-2 home win in October 2012. Our last hosting of Bristol City finished in a draw, but we haven`t lost at home to them since 1994.
Phil Parkinson has won zero league games as Bolton manager without Gary Madine.
Bristol City could go three away games without a goal, which hasn`t happened for two years. Bolton have only failed to score once at home since October (against Burton).
Bolton are unbeaten in their last four Friday league games stretching back to December 2014, with just one league goal conceded.
Match Prediction:
I`ll go for a 1-0 Bolton win. Regardless of what you think about Madine`s departure, we will win a game without him at some point. Why not tomorrow? Bristol City have had a great season, but they have had a run of games due to their League Cup progression and we`ve had some recovery time.
Next Fixtures:
A home game against Fulham next Saturday, before a trip to Cardiff a week on Tuesday. Hi Gary.