Match Preview: Bolton Wanderers vs Barnsley

What is arguably the biggest game in Bolton Wanderers’ entire season comes around this Saturday and unfortunately for us it’s away from home. After a midweek loss to high-flying Millwall, we’re on our way for a lovely day out in Barnsley, who are two points below us in the table with a game in hand.

After four losses on the bounce, a fifth one would put us right back in the relegation zone that we did so well to climb out of. One positive to take ahead of the upcoming match is that our highest scoring game of the season in the league came against Barnsley back in December (A whole three goals!?), whether we repeat that feat Gary Madine-less on Saturday is a different question altogether. Our away form this season is nothing short of diabolical and we’ll need something special to get a win, as Oakwell is a difficult place to go for most teams.

Much the same can be said for Barnsley, a home defeat for them would see them lose the ground they have gained on Wanderers. They have had a mixed bag of results over the last few weeks, an away loss on Tuesday at Ipswich taking the shine off a great win at home to Sheffield Utd last Saturday. Oli McBurnie and Tom Bradshaw are the difference makers for them and it will take a solid a defensive performance as any seen this season to take the three points on Saturday.

Team News

Wanderers will still be without big Jan Kirchhoff after he pulled his hamstring whilst trying to sprint against Birmingham. Chinedu Obasi is unlikely to make his debut after his recent groin injury. Filipe Morias should hopefully be fit for the weekend and Connor Hall could hopefully find himself on the bench.

Odds

Barnsley are 10/11 to win this game, while Bolton are 11/4 and a draw is 9/4.

Match Prediction

I still believe that Phil Parkinson and this squad have enough in them to get another big win over the line, it’ll be a big ask and we’ll probably concede at least one. But I fancy a 2-1 win to the Super Whites.