We Predict the First Six: Dan

With a pre-season containing fleeting moments of occasional excitement, always then washed away by the ever flowing river of disappointment and fear, drawing to a close, it's now time for us to hesitantly creep from behind the bushes and look into the future - look into the coming season.

So that's what it's my turn to do. To cast my over the opening six games of the season and lay down my - inevitably incorrect - predictions for the matches.

Fair warning, this may not be the most optimistic of pieces I've ever written.

1) Bolton Wanderers 0-3 Derby County

Sorry. Truly, but I really can't see anything falling our way on the opening game of the season. At present we find ourselves with out a right back, with just one striker, and practically all of our better players in the treatment room. I am not too concerned, just yet, on the injury front as Neil Lennon has assured us all on numerous occasions that there's nothing serious yet. But even if the likes of Zach Clough, David Wheater, Max Clayton, Emile Heskey and Tom Walker do make the opening day of the season, which I doubt, they're going to be lacking match sharpness.

Regardless, I doubt I'd predict us to get a much better result even if we didn't face all those problems, as Derby County have spent a lot of money this summer to add to their already expensively assembled squad. Already this summer the Rams have signed Darren Bent, Andi Weimann, Tom Ince, Scott Carson, Chris Baird, Alex Pearce and resigned Jason Shackell, how are we meant to compete with that?

New manager Paul Clemments will be wanting to start strongly, and I very much doubt he'll find much resistance at the Macron Stadium.

2) Middlesborough 2-0 Bolton Wanderers

If it wasn't enough for the Whites to be playing the best and most costly team in the league on the opening day of the season, that wonderful fixture compute then decided to give us the second best and mostly team in the league the very next week. Despite the fantastic signings of Tomas Kalas, Stewart Downing, the soon to be announced Christian Stuani and the very possible addition of Jordan Rhodes, I do believe Boro will once again fail to make it out of the Championship. That will have little effect on us however, as they are bound to fly out of the traps and will no doubt easily despatch us on their first home game of the season.

3) MK Dons 0-1 Bolton Wanderers

Finally! A win! It won't be a classic by any means, but with Bolton traveling to the newly promoted MK Dons who are without a few key players from last season's promotion campaign and have yet to add any real Championship quality to their ranks, they'll be looking to bounce back after two annoying, yet expected, opening defeats. It'll be a scrappy affair, but the Wanderers will just about hold on for their first three points of the season. Hopefully.

4) Bolton Wanderers 2-1 Nottingham Forest

What's this? Two wins on the bounce? Surely not?

Yes, yes, your eyes do not deceive you, I actually believe we'll finally get one over on Nottingham Forest and that pasty snake, Dougie Freedman. With Bolton Wanderers making ticket prices for the game very low, combined with the added context of Freedman and Matt Mills returning, I believe the Macron will be close to capacity and the crowd will be electric, no doubt helped by the traveling hoards from Nottingham. That atmosphere is what will drag us over the line. Providing, of course, if Michael Antonio plays in shackles.

5) Blackburn Rovers 1-1 0-2 Bolton Wanderers

You know, I was originally going to predict this game to be a 1-1 draw which would see the return of last season's cruel mistress - the last minute goal. But then I had a brief look over Blackburn Rovers' transfer dealings this summer. They've lost two good footballers in Tom Cairney and Josh King, could still very possible lose both Jordan Rhodes and Rudy Gestede, and the only players they've brought in are French pair Sacha Petshi and Fodé Koita. Oh, and a lad from Southport. If they do lose their strikers, I think we'll do 'em. We still might even if they stay.

6) Bolton Wanderers 0-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers

It wouldn't be right to end on a positive note, in my opinion, so we'll go full circle and end with a disappointing defeat. After a three good wins on the trot, with us Bolton fans finally feeling a tad optimistic about what the season may well hold, a couple of infuriating defensive errors will see us slump to a defeat against Wolves.

So, as it transpires, I've predicted for us to win half and lose the other half of our first six games. There is absolutely no chance that that will happen. But what do you think?