Match Preview: Bolton Wanderers v Norwich City

Bolton Wanderers welcome in-form Norwich City to the Reebok this afternoon in what is sure to be a hard-fought Championship fixture.

The Canaries have recovered from a poor start to the season, one which saw Neil Adams sacked as manager in January to be replaced by Scot Alex Neil who joined from Hamilton Academical and who oversaw a massive turnaround in fortunes to the point that the club find themselves in second place in the division.

With five games remaining, Norwich are unbeaten in their last six games, winning four. Their last defeat was 1-0 against Wigan at home at the beginning of March. They are, somewhat ominously, unbeaten in their last eight away games, winning six. Their last defeat on the road was 2-0 at Preston in the FA Cup in January.

They have also won the last three meetings between to the two sides, with our last win over Norwich being a 1-0 success at home in the Premier League in March 2005.

Luckily, Norwich are without Bradley Johnson who, despite looking like he needs a good wash, is well in form. He misses the game through accumulating ten bookings over the course of the season. Winger Nathan Redmond and midfielder Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe are both pushing for a return to the starting line-up. Top scorer Cameron Jerome (18 goals) will lead the line with Neil Lennon's former Glasgow Celtic striker Gary Hooper.

Wanderers are expected to keep the bones of the side that overturned Cardiff City 3-0 last week, but will be without the services (surprisingly) of Craig Davies who has suffered yet another hamstring injury. Emile Heskey is likely to replace him up front for Neil Lennon's men.

A tough game for the mighty Whites, but one that we can win. It'll be tight.

Prediction

Bolton Wanderers 2-1 Norwich City