Match Preview: Bolton Wanderers v Blackburn Rovers

Come and get yer tickets, buy and sell yer tickets

In a week where ticket pricing and winding up orders continue to make the headlines (no negativity please), the mighty Whites ‘welcome’ local, Lancashire rivals, and newly promoted, Blackburn Rovers to the UniBol, in what is sure to be a feisty affair, In front of the Sky TV cameras.

A 5.30pm kick off means I’ll be lauding it up big time in Horwich all afternoon and be in copiously high spirits as the game begins, sadly missing the planned Q&A session by our Chairman and mentor. No doubt the crescendo of noise from the 20,000+ crowd will soon sober me up and I’m expecting a lively pace with a few crunching tackles flying in to give me full value for money. I want £36 worth and not a penny less or I’m returning my season ticket posthaste.

Anyways, on to the footy and I would love it if we beat them, love it and I’m hoping we set off like a house on fire and really get at them. Like Wanderers, Blackburn have been pretty much hit and miss recently having beaten Stoke, drew with Forest and lost 2-0 at home to Sheffield United last time out, having just two shots on target. Sound familiar? Come on, stay positive folks.

Tony Mowbray’s men managed to retain mop-haired, lothario Bradley Dack in the summer after big interest from West Brom and he’s currently their top scorer with five in the league. Ben Brererererereton from Forest and Harrison Reed from Southampton have arrived through the doors at Ewood Park and even unassigned Jack Rodwell has also graced them with his presence on a ‘free’ in the summer, after securing promotion. Rovers sit 14^th in the table, one place above Bolton on goal difference and will hope their decent away form can continue.

Like Blackburn we have taken 4 points from our previous three fixtures. A goalless draw at Ipswich, followed by victory over Fraaaank Lampard’s Derby County, followed up with a 2-0 / 2-1 defeat at Stoke City in midweek. Parky was livid with a certain Mr Simpson after chalking off a perfectly good goal and preventing Wanderers from getting back into the game. That said we were poor in the first half and picked it up in the second and this has been the general feel of late, where we improve as the game goes on, but start slowly. Craig Noon’e header against FLDCFC aside

History is certainly on our side though, with us having the better of the games on home soil for a good while now. Bolton have won the last 6 games as hosts and long may it continue. Up the Super Whites

Team News

Bolton will be without goalkeeper Ben Alnwick with a poorly groin for the third game in a row so Remi Matthews will continue between the sticks. Sammy Ameobi’s ankle is still a tad sore so will miss out, as will Andy Taylor who has not recovered from his calf injury sustained at Preston at the start of last month. Marc Wilson comes back into contention after serving a one match suspension following his dismissal at Ipswich. Yanic Wildschut and Josh Vela may return to the starting XI. Parky certainly has options to shuffle his pack and freshen things up and I expect him to do so. Jack Hobbs looks nailed on for a start, mind.

Blackburn will be without long term absentees Dominic Samuel and Ben Gladwin and Ryan Nyambe is likely to be out of action until after the international break with a hamstring injury. Midfield youngster Jacob Davenport may not be risked for this one.

Rovers captain Charlie Mulgrew should start after he returned from a calf injury, playing the second half of the game against the Blades in midweek.

Darren Bond is tomorrow’s ref, I knew his brother James, sneaky to say the least that one. Let’s hope we’re not talking about Dazza after the final whistle. By the way, his assistants are Fox & Hunt, unlike the HMRC, I’m not winding you up.

Match Odds

The bookies have the opposition as clear favourites, but that was the case last week against Derby, so it’s anyone’s guess I suppose.

Bolton 9/5

Draw 11/5

Blackburn 6/5

Match Prediction

With the same points tally and fairly inconsistent form for both sides, all evidence points to a 0-0 stalemate. But I’ll ignore logic and say we’ll have a typical Lancashire Derby and some decent goals, with a super Josh Magennis header, (referee permitting) taking the spoils.

2-1 Bolton.

Enjoy the game ladies and gents, see you on the other side.