Match Preview

The Ice Man

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Almost 3 years ago to the day, Bolton Wanderers were welcoming Manchester United to the Reebok Stadium for a league clash in front of 24,000 supporters. On Saturday, the Whites host Yeovil Town looking for their first league win of the season.

Oh, how things can change.

A frozen lake can possess different thicknesses of ice on its surface. Dougie Freedman is stood on such a lake and is boasting the ice is metres-thick beneath his feet. The press, media and supporters, however, are convinced Freedman is standing on paper-thin frosting. So much so; if the Whites register anything less than 3-points against The Glovers on Saturday, Dougie will go crashing through the surface, never to be seen again? Well, not at Bolton, anyway.

In other words: this is a must-win game of must-win games, not only for the future of Dougie Freedman at Bolton Wanderers, but the immediate future of Bolton Wanderers the club.

Don`t fancy League One, do you?


Vital Quotes:



“Yeovil are going to look at us and say to themselves that if they want to stay in this division, then they`ve got to take points off teams in and around them and that`s what they`re going to try and do.

“It`s a difficult game for us because possibly we`re the favourites to win, but considering we`ve not been playing fantastically well, we need to turn that round and make sure that we make it an uncomfortable 90 minutes for Yeovil. I think if we do that, then we have the quality to win the game

“The division is very tight and every game you play is very tight – it can go either way. The league table is very tight and when you have three games in a week and you get the positive results that hopefully we`ll be getting, then you can soon turn it around very quickly like what happened to us last season.”

Dougie talking to the official BWFC website.



Bolton Wanderers Team News:



In terms of injuries, only one to report. Apart from the obvious- Holden, Mavies, Moritz and Vela- Craig Davies has been ruled out for the visit of Yeovil.

Neil Danns has signed a three-month loan from Leicester. You’d be forgiven for assuming Danns would be rolled out as ‘unfit’, ‘not match-ready’ or ‘not up to speed’, but that’s not the case. Not only is Neil eligible to play this Saturday, Dougie has hinted Danns could feature… I know, me too!


Player to watch: Neil Danns



We know what our tried-and-tested lads can do.. Or not do, however you want to look at it. We’re all too familiar with that lot. So, until one of our long-termers puts in a performance of note- if they ever do- I’m going with the new boy.

Now I think of it, I’m right to go with the new boy, anyway. Neil Danns has been brought to the Reebok for a number of reasons, according to Dougie. His energy, his enthusiasm, his ability, his fight and his eye for goal have all been mentioned, but if you’re not interested in any of those attributes, just ‘watch’ and see if he gets a game.


Yeovil Town Team News:



While Bolton were sealing the deal for a Championship midfielder, at the wrong end of 30, without filling a glaring need in the team, Yeovil were recruiting a Premiership DEFENDER from Everton, called Shane Duffy. Duffy could go straight into the Glovers’ team in place of crocked, Liam Fontaine.

Some more good news for the Somerset club, is the return of Paddy Madden. The Republic of Ireland international has been sidelined since the end of last month with a knee injury sustained in training, but played an hour in a behind closed doors friendly with Torquay United on Tuesday afternoon.


Player to watch: Paddy Madden



Last year’s League One top scorer hasn’t really had a chance to shine yet in the Championship due to injury.

Let’s hope the 23-year-old Rep. of Ireland international doesn’t find his scoring boots at the Reebok this weekend.


Match Facts & Stats



The last 6 matches of both Bolton and Yeovil in the league to date looks like a spot-the-difference competition.

Not a hard competition granted. One that wins a match programme, something like that…

Bolton: LLLLDL

Yeovil: LLLDLL

Have you got it yet?


Match Prediction:

Match prediction, let me think, let me think… Erm? Will we keep a clean sheet? No, I don’t think so. Will we score more than one goal, then? No, I don’t think so.

1-1 it is then…

Next Fixtures:



If you’re sick of having spare cash in your pocket and fancy seeing t’illuminations early this year, it’s Blackpool away on Tuesday at 8pm.



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