Match Preview: Derby County v Bolton Wanderers

A rare win over Millwall early last month had Bolton fans dreaming of another unlikely escape. But two pathetic home defeats to bottom side Ipswich Town then in mid-week to Middlesbrough have left Wanderers facing all-but certain relegation if they fail to win today.

A defeat at Derby County would leave Wanderers at least nine points from safety with four games to play and with a far inferior goal difference to the teams around them.

The chances of that happening based on recent trips to Derby are not good. Bolton haven’t won in their last 13 visits to Derby, all the way back to a 2-0 win in September 1981, while Derby have only lost one of their last 12 home games in all competitions.

A club record could also be at stake this afternoon as, if Bolton suffer defeat at Derby, they will equal the 26 league defeats set in the relegation campaign of 2015-16.

The good news is that Bolton actually managed to beat Derby in the reverse fixture back in September, a first win in nine over The Rams. However, they’ve only won three times since and it’s hard to see a fourth this afternoon - and it’s worrying just thinking what Harry Wilson and co might do to our awful defence this afternoon!

Away from the on-field fiasco, we’re still no nearer knowing what’s happening with the ownership of the club. That’s amid rumours that the current chairman has flown off to the US despite still not managing to agree a deal with the “two interested parties” and yet again failing to pay the players for more than two weeks. It’s high time something changed, the ownership changed and we got some positive news for a change.

Find out whether Bolton’s relegation will be all-but confirmed this afternoon in our live feed from around 2.30pm and over on Twitter.