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Bournemouth logo
Championship
Apr 27, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 
Bolton logo

3-0

Pugh (39'), Ritchie (44'), Wilson (78')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Preview: Bournemouth vs. Bolton Wanderers

Sports Mole previews the Championship encounter between promotion-chasing Bournemouth and Bolton Wanderers.

Bournemouth go into their crucial Championship fixture with Bolton Wanderers knowing that three points will take them closer to securing a place in the Premier League next season.

Bolton head into the game having struggled for wins of late but they showed last week against Brentford that they are capable of causing a surprise.



Bournemouth

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe during the Pre Season Friendly match between AFC Bournemouth and Southampton at The Goldsands Stadium on July 25, 2014© Getty Images

It may have taken Bournemouth a few days to get over their 2-2 draw with Sheffield Wednesday, but as far as promotion is concerned, their fate remains in their own hands.

With a 2-1 advantage heading into added-on time, Bournemouth looked on course to move two wins away from the Championship title but a 95th-minute penalty from Chris Maguire saw the Cherries drop two points.

However, the result extended their unbeaten run to 11 games and even though the title may not be won, they are still well placed to finish in second spot.

Monday's game with Bolton, though, will be a huge test of character for the players in what is arguably the biggest match in the club's history.

If Middlesbrough lose and Norwich City fail to win over the weekend, Bournemouth would become a Premier League club with three points against Bolton.

However, if both Middlesbrough and Norwich win, they will start Monday in fourth place and only a maximum return would keep them in line for automatic promotion.

Manager Eddie Howe will be relying on an attack that has only failed to score once in 17 games, but he has every reason to be wary of a side who earned a result at Brentford last weekend.

Recent form: WDWWWD



Bolton Wanderers

Bolton Wanderers Manager Neil Lennon walks onto the pitch at the start of the Sky Bet Championship match between Birmingham City and Bolton Wanderers at St Andrews (stadium) on October 18, 2014© Getty Images

Bolton head into the final two matches of the season with just one win in seven games, but that doesn't tell the whole story.

During that period, four draws have been recorded, three of which were achieved with an equaliser during the final 20 minutes.

Last weekend, they twice appeared to be heading for defeat at Brentford but goals from Adam le Fondre and Mark Davies ensured that they added another point to their tally for the season.

The Trotters have little to play for but Neil Lennon will be targeting 15th position, which would be a fine achievement after taking over a team who were once threatened by relegation.

Lennon will use the last two fixtures to assess his options for next year. Financial cuts will be made at the club so the Northern Irishman may blood a youngster from the academy.

The former Celtic chief will still want results though, and he will relish the chance to face a promotion-chasing team without any pressure on his players.

Recent form: DDWLDD



Team News

Bolton's Neil Danns celebrates a goal against Birmingham on October 5, 2013© Getty Images

Lennon has revealed that Neil Danns and Barry Bannan will return to the first-team squad for Monday's game.

The duo were banished to the sidelines last week because of disciplinary reasons, but they are available for a recall to the starting lineup.

Defender Dean Moxey has recovered from a knock, but Josh Vela has been ruled out for the rest of the season.

Howe revealed at his pre-match press conference that aside from the suspended Simon Francis, he will select his team from the same group of players that were available for the Sheffield Wednesday match.

Bournemouth possible starting lineup:
Boruc, Ward, Elphick, Cook, Daniels, Ritchie, Arter, Surman, Pugh, Kermorgant, Wilson

Bolton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Bogdan, Threlkeld, Dervite, Moxey, Ream, Feeney, Walker, Trotter Coke, Le Fondre, Heskey



Head To Head

The history between Bournemouth and Bolton Wanderers only began last season when the Cherries earned promotion to the Championship.

In the three matches that have taken place, four points have been recorded by both sides.

The reverse fixture at the Macron Stadium saw Bournemouth run out 2-1 winners thanks to a double from Callum Wilson.


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Bournemouth 2-1 Bolton Wanderers

Despite 15 places separating the two teams in the standings, this should be a close game. Bolton have the benefit of experience over Bournemouth, but with all that is at stake, Bournemouth could have an extra edge in the final 15 minutes.



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Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe during the Sky Bet Championship match between Brighton & Hove Albion and AFC Bournemouh at The Amex Stadium on January 01, 2014
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