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Preston North End logo
Championship
Oct 31, 2015 at 6pm UK
 
Bolton logo

0-0

FT

Preview: Preston North End vs. Bolton Wanderers

Sports Mole previews the Championship clash between Preston North End and Bolton Wanderers.

Bolton Wanderers travel to Preston North End hoping to pick up a win that could lift them out of the bottom three.

However, North End are still seeking their first victory at Deepdale in the Championship and, like the Trotters, are the lowest scorers in the division.


Preston North End

Simon Grayson manager of Preston North End looks on prior to the FA Cup with Budweiser Fourth round match between Nottingham Forest and Preston North End at City Ground on January 24, 2014© Getty Images

Speaking before the visit of Wanderers, manager Simon Grayson claimed that he wanted to give Preston fans bragging rights after their first local derby in a long time.

While Grayson is expecting a fierce atmosphere, the points on offer for relegation-threatened Preston could increase the tension further.

If they are to improve on their difficult start, North End will need to solve their biggest problem since being promoted to the Championship – an inability to score goals. Like Bolton, they have netted only 10 times.

This could be in part down to the form of last season's top scorer Joe Garner, who is yet to score for North End in the current campaign.

However, one promising aspect for the Lilywhites is their defence, with Grayson's men keeping six clean sheets in 13 outings.

Furthermore, PNE have also lost only once in their last five matches, which came courtesy of a 3-1 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday.

Recent form: LDLDWD
Recent form (all competitions): DDLDWD


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

While Neil Lennon's assertion that Bolton were "too good" to be bottom of the Championship may have appeared ambitious but after three straight defeats against Queens Park Rangers, Burnley and Birmingham City, his side's performance against Leeds United showed some promise.

The Trotters looked to be heading for a rare victory at the Macron Stadium when Shola Ameobi scored on his debut, but a late Mirco Antenucci penalty saw them pick up only their second point in six games.

Ameobi called on the team to "take the positives" from that draw, but the fact remains that Bolton have scored the fewest goals in the division this term.

Furthermore, Wanderers also boast one of the poorest defences in the Championship, having conceded 20 times in 13 games.

Ameobi's arrival might give Bolton extra attacking options, but Lennon has also had to replace Liam Trotter, who has joined Nottingham Forest on a month-long loan.

However, the club has brought in Australian international Luke Brattan from Manchester City on a temporary basis.

Recent form: LDLLLD


Team News

Joe Garner of Preston North End celebrates with team-mate Jake Larkins after he scores the first goal of the game for his side from the penalty spot during the Sky Bet League One match between Preston North End and Leyton Orient at Deepdale on February 15© Getty Images

Ameobi could be in contention for his first start, after coming off the bench against Leeds last time out.

The Nigerian should start the game, after Gary Madine limped off the pitch last week.

New signing Brattan could also be in contention for a place after completing his move from the A-League this week.

Meanwhile, Garner could be in line for a recall this week after seeing Eoin Doyle preferred in attack.

Preston possible starting lineup:
Pickford, Vermijl, Woods, Wright, Cunningham, Reach, Johnson, Gallagher, Browne, Garner, Hugill

Bolton possible starting lineup:
Amos, Gouano, Vela, Feeney, Ameobi, Osede, Davies, Danns, Pratley, Casado, Wheater


Head To Head

In recent meetings, Bolton have had the better of things, winning five of the last seven outings.

Interestingly, the Lancashire rivals have not met since May 2001, when Wanderers, then managed by Sam Allardyce, beat David Moyes's North End 3-0 in the Division One playoff final at the Millennium Stadium.

Preston's last win over the Trotters came in March 1992, when the pair met in League Division Three.


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Preston 0-1 Bolton

Preston's inability to win at home, or their difficulties in front of goal, may present Bolton with the chance to get back to winning ways. However, it could be a game of attrition for both teams.



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Shola Ameobi of Nigeria reacts during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Group F match between Nigeria and Bosnia-Herzegovina at Arena Pantanal on June 21, 2014
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