Match Preview: Bolton v Bournemouth

Struggling Bolton Wanderers welcome Bournemouth this weekend, with the opposition making their first ever trip to to the Reebok Stadium.

Only the 20th time that the two sides have met, Wanderers lead the way with nine wins to Bournemouth's eight.

Bournemouth find themselves an impressive 10 points clear of the relegation zone in 15th position, six in front of Bolton Wanderers.

Manager Eddie Howe has steered the side to relative safety already, with some astute signings and the sort of motivational techniques that long saw him linked with a move to a bigger side.

Suffering only two defeats in their last eight games, though without a win in four, they will be just as hungry for success as we will be.

Top scorer for the Cherries is former Crystal Palace man Lewis Grabban, who will likely be paired with new signing, Frenchman Yann Kermogant who joined on deadline day from Charlton Athletic for £400,000 close to deadline day. One disappointment for the club this season has been the form of £2.5m record signing Tokelo Rantie, who has scored just one league goal since his big-money move from Malmö FF in November 2013.

Saturday will see the return fixture following on from Bolton's 2-0 win at Bournemouth back in November, which saw strikers Jermaine Beckford and David Ngog score to provide just the second league win of the season for Dougie's men in white.

Bolton come into the game on the back of four straight defeats in all competitions with pressure on manager Freedman being critical levels.

It is undoubtedly a huge game for the club.

Last Five Meetings

14.09.1991 - Bournemouth 1 v 2 Bolton Wanderers (David Reeves, Phil Brown)

31.03.1992 - Bolton Wanderers 0 v 2 Bournemouth

19.09.1992 - Bolton Wanderers 1 v 1 Bournemouth (Tony Philliskirk)

27.04.1993 - Bournemouth 1 v 2 Bolton Wanderers (Julian Darby, Phil Brown)

02.11.2013 - Bournemouth 0 v 2 Bolton Wanderers (David Ngog, Jermaine Beckford)

Prediction

Win or bust, Dougie, win or bust.