Match Preview: Can Bolton Wanderers beat 'all or nothing' Nottingham Forest?

Now out of the relegation places after their 3-1 win against Barnsley last Saturday, Bolton Wanderers will look to continually improve their league position away at Nottingham Forest today.

Like Barnsley, Bolton will be facing a Forest side that has suffered consecutive defeats, to Cardiff City and Ipswich Town respectively. Forest are currently eleven points ahead of Wanderers in 13th place. So far, Forest haven’t drawn a game in the league this season. Combined with the end of last season, Forest haven’t drawn in the league for 27 games. They’re a true ‘all or nothing’ side.

Bolton still haven’t won an away game in The Championship since beating Cardiff City 3-0 back in April 2015. That’s now 35 games without an away win in this division.

Wanderers’ form at the City Ground has been poor since the club dropped back into The Football League. Since drawing 1-1 in 2013, Bolton have lost three in a row at Forest, conceding at least three goals a game. One of those games had us playing Twardzik at left back and Emile Heskey at centre back. Ah, what memories.

Another interesting stat is the fact that a Wanderers player has been sent off in the last four games at Forest. Marcos Alonso in 2013, Darren Pratley in the 2013/2014 season, Matt Mills in 2015 and Ben Amos in 2016.

Bolton’s last win at Forest was sixteen years ago, when goals from Dean Holdsworth and Gareth Farrelly got them a 2-0 win.

With only one defeat in nine, Wanderers will be confident of securing a result.

Team News

David Wheater will likely return to the starting line-up after missing last week through suspension. Andrew Taylor could feature after returning to match training.

For Forest, Mark Warburton has been considering making defensive changes given their last two games. Former Wanderer Matt Mills could be handed a start. Former Wanderers fan favourite Zach Clough has been out of favour at Forest with Everton loanee Kieran Dowell prefered, so expect him to start the game on the bench. Chris Cohen and Danny Fox remain are still sidelined with injuries.

Form

Bolton Wanderers - DWDDLW

Nottingham Forest - LWLWLL

Match Odds

Obviously, Nottingham Forest are the favourites with the bookies. A home win gets you odds of 4/5, a draw is 13/5 and a Wanderers win is 16/5.

Match Prediction

I’m going to go with a draw. 1-1. There will more than likely be a red card as well.