Happy New Year! What does 2018 hold for Bolton, we don`t quite know, but a game on the very first day of the calendar year could go a long way to influencing it. Back in August, we were thrashed 4-0 at the KCOM Stadium by a decent looking Hull side, but just over four months later, things are very different. At the time, it looked like we would be fighting different battles, but a win tomorrow would see us go above the Tigers, who recently replaced Leonid Slutskiy with Nigel Adkins. It`s a six-pointer.
Vital Quotes:
“We need to make sure we don`t get too carried away with this and make it a terrific festive period with another result on Monday.”
Phil Parkinson after Saturday`s away win.
Bolton Wanderers Team News:
I would expect a number of changes, otherwise the players will get knackered out in the later stages. This time of the year is stupid. Play the Boxing Day game, play on New Year`s Day, but don`t play in between. Anyway, Craig Noone has been ill, but could come back into contention. Andy Taylor and Sammy Ameobi are still injured.
Player to watch: The Four Loanees
Antonee Robinson, Adam Armstrong, Reece Burke and Josh Cullen all theoretically return to their parent clubs after tomorrow, so the game could potentially be a clincher for whether we keep them for the rest of the season, although Robinson in particular looks set to stay.
Hull City Team News:
Kamil Grosicki, who was excellent in the reverse fixture, has had an ankle injury, and may need at least another week before he plays again. Jon Toral is a doubt after suffering an injury in yesterday`s draw with Fulham, but both Evandro and Fraizer Campbell will be available.
Player to watch: Jarrod Bowen
He scored twice against us in August, and has been a big positive for Hull this season, the youngster breaking into the first team, managing 11 goals and playing well more often than not.
Match Facts & Stats
As mentioned a couple of times, Hull beat us 4-0 in August. Bowen scored twice, Grosicki once, and there was one too for Adama Diomande.
Our last home game against Hull was in April 2016, when Stephen Dobbie scored in a 1-0 win.
Bolton have won 14 of their last 20 home games against Hull, and have failed to lose to them at home since March 1935.
Bolton`s last New Year`s Day win came in 2001 at Preston.
Match Prediction:
I`m going for a Wanderers win to kick off 2018, but our recent form is loss, win, loss, win. Let`s hope that sequence is broken. 2-0 to us.
Next Fixtures:
Huddersfield at home in the FA Cup on Saturday, then we return to league action with a trip to Brentford a week later.