West Brom v Bolton, Championship
The Hawthorns, Saturday 4 August, 3pm
It’s back! Bolton’s 2018-19 season starts for real tomorrow when they travel to the Midlands to take on West Bromwich Albion. The last few seasons in the Championship have proven any away game in this division is tough for us, but it could be especially tough against a team that has dropped down from the Premier League.
Team news
Bolton should have all their new recruits available, including yesterday’s latest signing Luke Murphy. The Baggies are likely to play a similar team to the one which beat Coventry last week, so the likes of Craig Dawson and Salomon Rondon, linked with moves away, may not feature.
Possible Bolton team
Alnwick; Olkowski, Wheater, Beevers, Taylor; Ameobi, Lowe, Vela, Wilschut; Donaldson, Le Fondre
West Brom player to watch
Harvey Barnes: An attacking midfielder, Barnes played for Barnsley on loan from Leicester in the first half of last season, and is on loan at the Hawthorns this season. He’s likely to play on the wing, he’s quick and technically good.
Stats and facts
This is Bolton’s first opening day away game since a 3-0 defeat at Watford in 2014.
This is Bolton’s first trip to West Brom since November 2011. Jerome Thomas and Shane Long scored against us as we lost 2-1, Ivan Klasnic had equalised from the spot before Long’s second-half strike.
Bolton have won just one of their last five opening day games, and that came in the League One season.
📽️ Past encounters. Who remembers this trip to @WBA back in December 1996? Per Frandsen and Chris Fairclough were both amongst the goals that day! ⚽️#BWFC 🐘🏰 pic.twitter.com/c8CBy7dMHj
— Bolton Wanderers (@OfficialBWFC) August 2, 2018
Referee
Geoff Eltringham will referee the game. Funnily enough, the fourth official is Scott Duncan, who took charge of the Forest game in May.
Prediction
Could be a tricky game, 2-0 to West Brom
Next games
We host Bristol City next weekend, before travelling to Leeds next Tuesday in the Carabao Cup.