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Bolton logo
Championship
Sep 12, 2015 at 3pm UK
 
Wolves logo

2-1

Feeney (17'), Clough (45')
FT(HT: 2-0)
Afobe (68' pen.)

Preview: Bolton Wanderers vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers

Sports Mole previews this weekend's Championship affair between Bolton Wanderers and Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Macron Stadium.

Bolton Wanderers take on Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday afternoon aiming to pick up their first win of the season.

Wolves have made a better start of things, meanwhile, winning two and drawing one of their opening five games to find themselves sitting firmly in mid-table.


Bolton Wanderers

Neil Lennon the manager of Bolton Wanderers looks on prior to the Sky Bet Championship match between Blackburn Rovers and Bolton Wanderers at Ewood park on August 28, 2015© Getty Images

A winless start to the season has left Bolton in a perilous position inside the Championship's bottom three, and a serious lack of goals is becoming a growing concern at the Macron Stadium.

No side has scored fewer than Wanderers' paltry tally of one, which came in the dying seconds against Nottingham Forest a few weeks ago to rescue a dramatic point.

Points have been few and far between as far as the Trotters are concerned, though, having taken just three from a possible 15 across the opening month of the campaign.

The positive spin to put on this early-season form is that Bolton have made themselves tough to beat on the whole, holding Derby County, Blackburn Rovers and Forest to draws, while keeping a couple of clean sheets during that run.

Yet it is the failure to find the net, best exemplified by the fact that they have drawn a blank in six of their last seven league outings, which has really worried and frustrated supporters in equal measure.

Bolton are still left to rely on a select few to fire the goals this term after failing to truly strengthen during the summer months, with the loss of loan striker Adam Le Fondre a particular blow.

Things can change very quickly in this division, however, and should maximum points be picked up this weekend then a likely place in mid-table and a three-match unbeaten run does not sound all that bad.

On the flip side, it could be Neil Lennon's charges propping up the table come 5pm on Saturday evening, which really would set the panic bells ringing.

Recent form (all competitions): DLLLDD


Wolverhampton Wanderers

Kenny 'Grab Your' Jackett looks on during Wolves' game against Hull City on August 16, 2015© Getty Images

Things were beginning to look increasingly bleak for Wolves as the international break approached, with quick-fire defeats to Queens Park Rangers and Cardiff City seeing them slide down the table.

That came after a respectable four points from their opening two fixtures, but the wheels appeared to be falling off on the back of those two abject displays that had fans feeling just a little worried.

Any fears were soon allayed last time out, though, as Le Fondre added to his assists tally for the club to fire home his first goal in the 2-1 win over Charlton Athletic.

Wolves now find themselves sitting in 12th place in the Championship table - one point off their ultimate goal of a playoff place.

While opponents Bolton have had serious problems sticking the ball in the net, Wolves' ultimate struggle has come up the other end where they have shipped a goal in 11 of their last 12 league outings.

Boss Kenny Jackett will be hoping to have rectified that issue during the two-week hiatus, knowing full well that Benik Afobe - whom the club managed to keep hold of beyond deadline day - will continue to strike it rich.

The former England Under-21s international, who was the subject of numerous Norwich City bids, already has three goals to his name this term to take his 2015 tally up to a league high of 15.

Back-to-back wins in league and cup have certainly helped to restore the feel-good factor around Molineux, but Jackett will now be looking to push on in pursuit of going one better than last season's near miss.

Recent form in Championship: WDLLW
Recent form (all competitions): WWDLLWW


Team News

Wolves striker Nouha Dicko celebrates after scoring the first Wolves goal during the Capital One Cup First Round match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Newport County at Molineux on August 11, 2015© Getty Images

Dorian Dervite will sit this one out for Bolton after picking up a late red card in the Lancashire derby stalemate a fortnight ago.

The home side will also be without David Wheater and Darren Pratley, who both remain on the sidelines, though the latter is thought to be close to making a return to action.

Jay Spearing and Emile Heskey could both be thrown into the mix, meanwhile, for a Trotters side now winless in 10 Championship matches.

In terms of the visitors, Le Fondre is likely to be given the nod up top against his former side. The Cardiff loanee scored eight goals in his three months in Lancashire last term, but he has rather ominously also struck three times against Bolton in the past.

His goals will be welcomed following the cruel loss of Nouha Dicko, who picked up an anterior cruciate ligament injury against Charlton and is unlikely to play again in 2015-16.

Bolton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Amos; Moxey, Prince, Vela, Wilson; Danns, Davies; Feeney, Clough, Wellington; Madine

Wolverhampton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Ikeme; Golbourne, Hause, Ebanks-Landell, Iorfa; Edwards, McDonald, Coady, Henry; Le Fondre, Afobe


Head To Head

Bolton have not lost at home to Wolves in their last 11 meetings, and have scored in 15 straight home games against their weekend opponents.

In fact, Wolves have won just one of their last nine games against the Trotters overall, albeit in a 1-0 victory a little over 12 months ago at Molineux.

Dicko's first-half strike was enough to win that one, sending Wolves up to third place in the standings and leaving Bolton stuck on five points for the season.


Video Preview

Hit play below to see what the Sports Mole Sofa had to say about this encounter:


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Bolton Wanderers 0-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers

A tight encounter can be expected in Lancashire, as Wolves look to make it three wins in succession in all competitions against a Bolton side struggling for form. The international break may just have given the hosts a chance to regroup following a barren opening month, but they will be made to wait for their first victory.



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Written by
Daniel Lewis
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Kenny 'Grab Your' Jackett looks on during Wolves' game against Hull City on August 16, 2015
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