Away games. Bolton Wanderers. Generally, two things you don`t mix. We pretty much never win, very rarely pick up points, and shots on target are generally something to shout about. This week, we might have two of our biggest away games so far to date this season. The first of those tomorrow sees us travel to Reading.
Not only it is a chance for us to try and bounce back from that rancid second half at the weekend, but we can also drag a hopeless-of-late Royals side into the relegation scrap, a win would take us above them, and potentially level with Saturday`s opponents Sheffield Wednesday.
Vital Quotes:
“Our away form hasn`t been fantastic so far but we got a great draw at Norwich and over the festive period we proved we can get results too. We need to do that again now and show we can add points on the road. I think we have got enough in our squad to go down to Reading and get a result.”
Mark Beevers in the Bolton News
Reading Team News:
Garath McCleary is out with an ankle problem, while ex-Bolton trialist Mo Barrow, Sone Aluko and John Swift could all be contention for returns.
Player to watch: Jon Dadi Bodvarsson
The Icelandic international joined from Wolves in the summer and has six goals in the league. He can be pretty capable in the air too.
Bolton Wanderers Team News:
Karl Henry and Mark Little are once again available after completing their suspensions. Sammy Ameobi has a back problem so is likely to miss out. Chinedu Obasi is available but Phil Parkinson`s words would suggest he`s not ready for a start yet. Parkinson however has vowed the ring the changes, pardon the cliche
Player to watch: Jan Kirchhoff
The midfield on Saturday was poor. Kirchhoff made his debut off the bench, one would wonder if he gets a start, with Karl Henry and one other joining him. Kirchhoff may help the men in the middle get a grip against a side that retains possession well, if little else.
Match Facts & Stats
The reverse fixture ended in a 2-2 draw in November. We had led 2-0 through Reece Burke and Darren Pratley but the Royals managed to score twice in the second half to salvage a draw.
Our last trip to the Madejski was in November 2015. Lucas Piazon and Danny Williams scored for them, while Liam Feeney`s late penalty gave us some respectability.
We haven`t beaten Reading for 10 years, when Kevin Nolan and Heidar Helguson scored in a 2-0 win in Berkshire which turned out to be vital in staying up that year.
Reading have been as bad as anyone since the turn of the year, picking up just six points, Bolton have picked up 12.
Match Prediction:
I`ll go for a draw, I`d be disappointed if there wasn`t some sort of reaction after Saturday. 1-1.
Next Fixtures:
We`re away to Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, before hosting Aston Villa a week later.