Bolton Facts

Club Emblem

NICKNAME: Trotters

FOUNDED: 1874

MANAGER: Gary Megson

GROUND: Reebok Stadium

LAST SEASON:

League 13th FA Cup Third Round Carling Cup Second Round

HONOURS:

Nationwide One Champions (1) 1995-96

Division Two Champions (2) 1908-09, 1977-78

Division Three Champions (1) 1972-73

FA Cup Winners (4) 1923, 1926, 1929, 1958

Sherpa Van Trophy Winners 1989

RECORD VICTORY: League 8-0 v Barnsley, Division Two, 06-10-1934 Cup 13-0 v Sheffield United, FA Cup Second Round, 01-01-1890

RECORD DEFEAT: 1-9 v Preston, FA Cup Second Round, 10-12-1887

RECORD ATTENDANCE: 69,912 v Manchester City, FA Cup Fifth Round, 18-02-1933 (Burnden Park)

TOP LEAGUE GOALSCORER: Season Joe Smith, 38, 1920-21 All-time Nat Lofthouse, 255, 1946-61

MOST LEAGUE APPEARANCES: Eddie Hopkinson, 519, 1956-70

Bolton vs Liverpool Reebok

One of the most intriguing games of the weekend.
Jlloyd Samuel could be in line to make his first Premier League start of the season for Bolton.

Samuel was preferred to new signing Paul Robinson for Tuesday’s Carling Cup win at Tranmere and could be set to keep his place in the side. Andy O’Brien is also in contention after recovering from a groin strain.

Joey O’Brien and Ricardo Gardner are still nursing long-term problems, but Ricardo Vaz Te is back in training with the squad and hoping to be given a run-out.

New Liverpool signing Sotirios Kyrgiakos came through a reserve run-out on Thursday night and is in line for his Barclays Premier League debut at Bolton.

The Greece international played 45 minutes of the second string’s 3-2 defeat by Blackburn reserves, and with concerns still over Martin Skrtel’s jaw injury the new centre-back is set to play at the Reebok.

After two league defeats in three games, boss Rafael Benitez needs to get Liverpool’s season on track quickly. But he is still without Fabio Aurelio, Daniel Agger and new midfielder Alberto Aquilani – all long-term injured.

Teams:

Bolton (from): Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Ricketts, Cahill, A O’Brien, Knight, Robinson, Samuel, Taylor, Davis, Muamba, McCann, Lee, Elmander, Basham, K Davies, Al Habsi, Hunt, Ward, Cohen, M Davies, Vaz Te.

Liverpool (from): Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Kyrgiakos, Insua, Benayoun, Babel, Mascherano, Lucas, Voronin, Kuyt, Gerrard, Torres, Cavalieri, Dossena, Ayala, Kelly, Spearing, Riera, Ngog

Bolton Wanderers – Major Ins and Outs

MANAGER: Gary Megson (Oct 2007)

MAJOR INS: Sean Davis (Portsmouth, free), Paul Robinson (West Brom, loan), Sam Ricketts (Hull, undisclosed), Zat Knight (Villa, undisclosed), Lee Chung-Yong (FC Seoul, undisclosed)

MAJOR OUTS: Tope Obadeyi (Swindon, loan)

KEY MAN: Kevin Davies (245 apps, 51 gls)

LAST SEASON: 13th

OUR VERDICT: 13th. Megson has his critics, but he has ensured Bolton should not have to worry about relegation and they will be difficult to beat once again.

Hull get monkey off their back

Substitute Jozy Altidore made an immediate impact to help Hull put their midweek defeat by Spurs behind them.

Debutant Altidore’s first touch set up new signing Kamel Ghilas to volley beyond keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.

A dominant display from Bolton had seen Kevin Davies, Matt Taylor, Johan Elmander and ex-Tiger Sam Ricketts all come close to scoring.

But Bolton were unable to put away their chances and Ghilas’s goal secured Hull’s first win in 12 games.

It is now 12 matches since Bolton last won away and manager Gary Megson was left to rue his team’s inability to put away the many chances they created.

For Hull manager Phil Brown, who had taken his players on an inspirational visit to the club’s former Boothferry Park ground on Friday, it was the perfect riposte to the 5-1 defeat to Spurs.

Indeed, Brown had declared Bolton’s visit as the start of the season for his club and the victory was exactly the kind of beginning he had hoped for.

Megson, however, will be scratching his head in wonder at how Bolton managed to depart the KC Stadium without any points.

Hull’s goal came on the hour but when United States forward Altidore set up Ghilas to volley past the previously un-worked Jaaskelainen, it was completely against the run of play.

Bolton had left the field at half-time wondering how they had failed to break the deadlock despite enjoying more than 60 per cent of the possession.

Johan Elmander had unsettled the home side within minutes of the start, latching on to Fabrice Muamba’s through-ball on the edge of the area but the striker dragged his shot narrowly wide of the far post.

Despite four changes to the side that had been so roundly beaten in on Wednesday, Hull were visibly rattled and it took a good 20 minutes for the home side to settle.

Luckily for Hull, defender Andy Dawson held his composure, making a crucial goal-line clearance as he headed Sean Davis’ free-kick away after Myhill’s attempted punch had hit fresh air.

Myhill looked unnerved but settled, later pushing Matt Taylor’s vicious free-kick away and readjusting quickly to tip Kevin Davies’ cross-cum-shot over the bar.

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At the other end, Hull’s best chance came from Geovanni, making his first full start this term.

The Brazilian striker jinked past Muamba to unleash a right-foot volley that Jaaskelainen pushed beyond the near post.

It was Hull’s only real chance of the half though and Bolton were unlucky not to end the period ahead after Kevin Davies, who has just signed a contract extension with the Trotters, spurned a great chance.

The Bolton striker floated in unmarked into the area and got a foot on Sean Davis’ free-kick but he was stretching and skied his shot well over the bar.

Hull continued to live a charmed life in front of goal in the second half as Kevin Davies’ delicate ball clipped Elmander’s heel and fell invitingly into Taylor’s path but the defender’s shot was saved by Myhill.

But when the muscular 19-year-old Altidore was introduced as a like-for-like replacement for Folan, the game turned.

Shortly after setting up Hull’s goal Altidore almost made it two but he volleyed wide with only the keeper to beat.

It was Ghilas’ turn to hold his head in his hands next, the former Celta Vigo striker blasting a shot against the bar.

Bolton continued to throw everything at the home side though and Myhill had to be alive to efforts from substitutes Daniel Ward, Chung Yong Lee and a fine late shot from former Hull defender Sam Ricketts.

EPL Day 3 Previews – Saturday Kick Offs

Saturday’s matches

Arsenal v Portsmouth
Prediction: Home win

Croatia striker Eduardo has recovered from a groin problem which ruled him out of the Champions League qualifier against Celtic. England forward Theo Walcott (back), however, has once again been ruled out. Reserve goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski (knee), Czech international Tomas Rosicky (hamstring), France winger Samir Nasri (broken leg) and defender Johan Djourou (knee) all continue their rehabilitation.

Midfielder Papa Bouba Diop faces a possible three to six weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring injury and will miss the match. The Senegalese international is set to undergo a scan to confirm the extent of the problem, but he will definitely sit out the clash at Emirates Stadium. Manager Paul Hart remains without Herman Hreidarsson and Steve Finnan, who are also suffering with hamstring problems and are at least two weeks away from returning.

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Birmingham City v Stoke City
Prediction: Home win

Manager Alex McLeish will check on the fitness of left-back Gregory Vignal and striker Cameron Jerome before finalising his side. Vignal and Jerome suffered hip and ankle injuries respectively during the midweek victory over Portsmouth at St Andrews. Stuart Parnaby is expected to replace Vignal if he is ruled out with record signing Christian Benitez a candidate to take over from Jerome should he fail to recover. Midfielder Lee Bowyer returns to the squad after completing a three-match ban for his sending-off at Preston at the tail-end of last season.

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Hull City v Bolton Wanderers
Prediction: Away win

American striker Jozy Altidore could make his debut after finally rejoining his new team-mates. The on-loan Villarreal forward missed the Tigers’ season openers against Chelsea and Tottenham after his return from international duty last week was delayed by red tape. Craig Fagan, who underwent a hernia operation in the summer, is in contention for the first time this season. Midfielder Dean Marney (knee) is expected to be out for another couple of weeks while Jimmy Bullard and Ian Ashbee are long-term absentees.

Full-back Gretar Steinsson could come into contention after the Iceland full-back sat out the defeat by Sunderland last week as he was suffering from a virus. Manager Gary Megson will again be without Ricardo Gardner, Joey O’Brien and Ricardo Vaz Te through injury.

Sunderland v Blackburn Rovers
Prediction: Home win

Manager Steve Bruce has several major injury doubts. Midfielder Lee Cattermole is struggling with the back problem which forced his departure during Tuesday’s 3-1 defeat by Chelsea, while goalkeeper Marton Fulop has had injections in a heel injury with Craig Gordon standing by. Steed Malbranque (ankle) could miss out once again, while Cattermole’s central midfield partner Lorik Cana is expected to play through the pain after hurting his hand in midweek.

Club captain Ryan Nelsen is back in the squad. A knee problem kept the New Zealand defender out of Rovers’ opener against Manchester City, but he has now recovered to boost Sam Allardyce’s rearguard. Vince Grella could feature after coming off the bench last week, while new striker Nikola Kalinic is also in contention after his arrival from Hadjuk Split. Fellow new signing Michel Salgado is yet to receive clearance to play so will have to wait before making his debut. Long-term absentees Brett Emerton, Steven Reid and David Dunn are all making good progress but are still some way off first-team football.

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Manchester City v Wolves
Prediction: Home win

Manchester City pair Robinho (ankle) and Emmanuel Adebayor (groin) are doubtful. Both players sat out the friendly victory against Barcelona in midweek and their fitness will be monitored ahead of the game. Wayne Bridge also has a hamstring problem but is expected to be available while Roque Santa Cruz, Vincent Kompany and Michael Johnson remain sidelined.

Wolves are boosted by the return of striker Kevin Doyle and central defender Christophe Berra aftre recovering from groin and hamstring problems respectively but are likely to have to be content with places on the bench as boss Mick McCarthy names an unchanged team. Striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (hamstring) and right-back Kevin Foley (knee) are still missing while forward Chris Iwelumo (foot) and winger Michael Kightly (foot and hip) remain long-term casualties.

Wigan Athletic v Manchester United
Prediction: Away win

Winger Charles N’Zogbia is rated at 50-50 to be fit. The Frenchman sustained an ankle injury in last weekend’s victory over Aston Villa, but was deemed fit enough to take part in Tuesday’s home defeat to Wolves. However, the injury has not improved and he is a doubt for the United clash.

Nemanja Vidic is set to make his first appearance of the season. The defender suffered an ankle injury during the warm-up to a pre-season game in Munich last month but has trained without a problem for the last 10 days. Rio Ferdinand (thigh) is out for another three to four weeks. Gary Neville could also be involved from the start at the DW Stadium, although most attention will be focused on Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen, who are both still searching for their first goals of the current campaign.

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Lucy Pinder in your Premier League Colours

Look at the directory above and click on your team to get the download of Lucy.

Click on the team you support and download the image.
Lucy pinder – Courtesy of Nuts Magazine.