So basically I have to get on a plane in about an hour and have somehow procrastinated til now to do my preview so it was be a bit rushed/short. I realize now that that time I took to do my nails last night, could've been spent doing this. Oh well, it all comes together in retrospect doesn't it? Anyway here goes:
The Wanderers embark on the longest trip of the season to visit Portsmouth, who are also the only club below Bolton on the table (both teams with no points, Portsmouth with a -6 goal difference, and Bolton with -3). Portsmouth are one of the teams who I think really could go down, they haven't looked convincing for about 6 months now and lost 10 senior players in the transfer window, including Sol Campbell, Peter Crouch, and Glen Johnson. Both teams will be desperate for points, Portsmouth having played four games with no points, and Bolton with three. Our performance against Liverpool was very encouraging, now all we need to do is bring the passion against one of the best clubs in the league to one of the worst.
Megson will have been hearing the chants from the stands, I'm sure he knows just how unpopular he is with the Bolton fans, and I think his job rests upon the performance of the team in the next 4 games (which are Portsmouth (A), Stoke (H), Birmingham (A), and Tottenham (H)). A weak Pompey team should prove just what Elmander needs to get his ego-boosting goal (I have the hope that if he can get just one goal, his confidence will build and he'll start scoring more regularly). Also it will give our new signings a chance to shine against unconvincing oppo. So fingers crossed that this will be the game where the Wanderers get their confidence boosted and learn to play together.
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I reckon our offense will finally click together, with two good goals after a first scrappy one, however I also tihnk our defense is a bit leaky so Portsmouth to pull one back. I know this is optimistic, but hey. as a Bolton fan I've got to look on the bright side!
Fratton Park is a great old stadium and the atmosphere should be good, so good luck to the fans making the 515 mile round trip! Sing loud for me!