MX23RW : Monday, January 6 22:49:58| >> :120:43951:43951:
[monks data]
Bolton logo
Championship
Dec 26, 2014 at 3pm UK
 
Blackburn logo

2-1

Heskey (59'), Pratley (62')
FT(HT: 0-1)
King (41')

Preview: Bolton Wanderers vs. Blackburn Rovers

Sports Mole previews the Boxing Day clash between in-form Bolton and playoff-chasing Blackburn at the Macron Stadium.

Blackburn Rovers will be looking to keep the pressure on the playoff places when they travel to the Macron Stadium to face Bolton Wanderers on Boxing Day.

Rovers returned to winning ways against Charlton Athletic on Saturday, but remain four points adrift of the top six as we approach the halfway point of the season.

That victory over the Addicks, which came courtesy of a Jordan Rhodes brace, ended a three-match winless streak for Gary Bowyer's side, although their main problem for a while now has been stringing a good run of wins together.

Boxing Day has been a traditionally difficult day for Rovers in recent times, however, with no wins in their last six matches on December 26.

They haven't exactly swept all before them on the road this season either, with no wins in their last four away games and just three all season.

However, with Rhodes beginning to rediscover his best form and Rudy Gestede also having enjoyed a productive first half to the season, the hosts will be confident of having the firepower required to test Bolton.

Blackburn have scored in 11 consecutive league games - the longest current run in the division - but they come up against a Bolton side who have been very impressive defensively in recent weeks.

The Trotters have kept four clean sheets in a row for the first time since September 2006, and another on Boxing Day would extend that run to five, a feat they have not achieved since April 1912.

That solid defence has been the basis of a seven-match unbeaten run for Neil Lennon's side, lifting them away from the bottom three and up to 16th in the table.

Things have been less impressive at the other end of the pitch recently, however, with Bolton only having scored twice in those last four games.

It is now five games unbeaten at the Macron for Wanderers, with only high-flying Ipswich Town avoiding defeat in that time, while the clean sheets have also been free-flowing at home, with three in their last four games.

A number of first-team players have been suffering with flu over the last few days, but Lennon is expected to have a fully-fit squad to choose from come Friday.

Bolton:

Recent form: WDWDDW

Possible starting lineup: Lonergan; Vela, Mills, Dervite, Ream; Danns, Pratley, Feeney, Lee, Hall; Gudjohnsen

Blackburn:

Recent form: DWDLLW

Possible starting lineup: Steele; Baptiste, Hanley, Duffy, Olsson; Tunnicliffe, Evans, Lowe, Marshall; Gestede, Rhodes

Sports Mole says: 1-1


ID:195331: cacheID:195331:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5257:
Written by
Barney Corkhill
No Data Analysis info

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Gary Bowyer, the manager of Blackburn Rovers, looks on at Ewood Park on September 21, 2013
Read Next:
Bowyer hails "magnificent" Blackburn
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds26158348192953
2Burnley26141023192252
3Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd26166436171952
4Sunderland26148439221750
5Middlesbrough26118743321141
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom26913432211140
7Blackburn RoversBlackburn2511682823539
8Bristol City2691073330337
9Watford25114103536-137
10Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds2610793840-237
11Norwich CityNorwich269984337636
12Swansea CitySwansea2697103030034
13Queens Park RangersQPR2671182934-532
14Millwall257992423130
15Preston North EndPreston2661282834-630
16Coventry CityCoventry2678113437-329
17Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2577112840-1228
18Derby CountyDerby2676133135-427
19Stoke CityStoke2669112432-827
20Luton TownLuton2674152744-1725
21Portsmouth2458113041-1123
22Hull City2658132536-1123
23Cardiff CityCardiff2558122540-1523
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth2548132453-2920


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!