Trotters vs City - TalkSoccer

robmcfc86 · 20-02-2004, 03:44 PM

DVB is facing a late-fitness test Saturday morning after picking up a knock on international duty with Belgium. City will be without Anelka sitting out the first of three games through suspension after being s/o at Highbury. David James looks set to start with Arni Arason being put back on to the bench. It'll be interesting to see what KK does upfront, unlikely to go 451 which he started to get used to with Anelka so it could be Fowler and Macken or Fowler with Sib just behind him in a 442 or 352 formation.

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Bolton captain Jay Jay Okocha is back from African Nations Cup duty with Nigeria and should figure.

Steve Howey could make his debut for Wanderers against his former club as Emerson Thome is suspended, but Stelios Giannakopoulos (hamstring) is out.

Nicolas Anelka, Paul Bosvelt and Joey Barton are all suspended for Manchester City while Trevor Sinclair (calf) and Sun Jihai are doubtful.

David James returns in goal after being cup-tied against Manchester United.

Bolton (from): Jaaskelainen, Poole, Hunt, Otsemobor, Barness, Howey, Charlton, Nolan, N'Gotty, Djorkaeff, Frandsen, Pedersen, Okocha, Gardner, Davies, Ba, Campo, Moreno, Pezzarossi.

Manchester City (from): James, Arason, Distin, Van Buyten, Dunne, Wiekens, Jihai, McManaman, Sinclair, Reyna, Wright-Phillips, Tarnat, Sibierski, Fowler, Macken, Elliott, Flood, Jordan, McCarthy.

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BIG-MATCH FACTS

BOLTON WANDERERS are still chasing a first ever European expedition on two fronts. The weekend before taking on Middlesbrough at the Millennium Stadium in the Carling Cup final, the Trotters face Manchester City sitting two points off a Uefa Cup spot.

Bolton have conceded the same number of Premiership goals as City (37 from 25 games) and have not scored as many (31 to City's 33), yet they find themselves six places and 10 points better off in the table.

These clubs compiled the highest scoring game in the top division this season when they met at the City of Manchester Stadium in October and City won 6-2. But Bolton prevailed in last season's corresponding fixture 2-0, despite a penalty miss from Jay Jay Okocha.

MANCHESTER CITY are currently enduring the Premiership's longest winless run. Should they fail to defeat Bolton, Kevin Keegan's side will equal the club Premiership record of 15 matches without victory, set between 29 April and 28 October 1995.

City have lost the lead 11 times in Premiership games this term - more than any other club. Their dismal tally of six points from the last possible 42 is not helped by a run of five successive away defeats.

City had to come from behind to beat Bolton 6-2 in the reverse fixture. Nicolas Anelka and Shaun Wright-Phillips scored two each, but the latter blotted his copy book by being sent off for violent conduct on Simon Charlton. City are now striving for a first double against any club this season, first Premiership double over the Trotters and eighth League double since they first engaged in League competition in 1900.

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SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM

BOLTON WANDERERS

Club stats
10th 34 points
Highest achievable at the final whistle: 6th
Lowest could fall: 12th

Nine points better off than their previous best of 25 points after 25 Premiership games.
On a run of five unbeaten League games.
Won three and drawn two since losing 1-2 at home to Manchester United on 7 January.
Drawn the last two.
Racked up 11 draws in the top League - one fewer than Newcastle, who have the highest total, and one more than Manchester City.
Scored in each of the last 13 Premiership matches. No other club can beat or match that.
Been "doubled" only once this season so far, by Manchester United.
Need to score four times to total 200 all-time Premier League goals.
Players not been shown any red cards in any competition this season. Of the Premiership clubs, only Tottenham can also make this boast.
One of two clubs with as many as three remaining players, who have figured in all their clubs' League games this term. The other is Newcastle.
After the Carling Cup final, there are away Premiership matches against Birmingham and Arsenal, separated by a home match with Chelsea.
MANCHESTER CITY

Club stats
16th 24 points
Highest achievable at the final whistle: 14th
Lowest could fall: 16th

Won one of the last seven League and Cup games.
Lost the last two in all competitions, and three of the last five.
Conceded six goals in two games - both away.
Drawn six and lost eight Premiership games since beating Southampton 0-2 away on 1 November.
Lost the last five Premiership matches on the road against Manchester United (3-1), Birmingham (2-1), Portsmouth (4-2), Arsenal (2-1) and Liverpool (2-1).
Without an away League win in seven (one draw, six defeats) since the victory at St Mary's.
Recorded only five Premiership victories. Only Leicester and Wolves have won fewer (four each).
Conceded in 20 of their 25 Premiership games. Only Leeds (22) and Blackburn (21) have conceded on more occasions.
67% of their League goals have been scored in the second half. Only Wolves have a higher percentage (68).
65% of their League goals conceded have been shipped in the second half. Only Manchester United have a higher percentage (70).
Fourth bottom in the Premiership's "Last Six Current Form" table with three points from the 18 available.
Their 61 goals in all competitions have been scored by 16 different players. Only Chelsea have more (17 netting 74 League and Cup goals).
Two points shy of totalling 300 all-time in the Premier League.
According to official figures, fired more shots on target in Premiership matches than any other club (199).
Next there are home matches with Chelsea and Manchester United, a trip to Leeds and a home clash with Fulham.

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KEY PLAYER NOTES/POTENTIAL MILESTONES

BOLTON WANDERERS

Squad profiles

If he participates, Ivan CAMPO will be playing on his 30th birthday.
CAMPO, Kevin DAVIES and Jussi JAASKELAINEN have all played a part in every one of Bolton's Premiership games this season.
According to official figures, Jay Jay OKOCHA has fired more shots without scoring in Premiership matches than another other player (68).
If Kevin POOLE figures at any stage, he'll be making the 300th League appearance of his career (excluding Play-Offs).
Suspended: Emerson THOME
MANCHESTER CITY

Squad profiles

Sylvain DISTIN is the only remaining player to have been involved in every minute of every one of Manchester City's Premiership games.
Suspended: Nicolas ANELKA, Paul BOSVELT, Joey BARTON

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LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME:
Bolton Wanderers 2-0 Manchester City
5 April 2003 - Ref: Clive Wilkes
Bolton scorers: Pedersen 32, Campo 52

THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE:
Manchester City 6-2 Bolton Wanderers
18 October 2003 - Ref: Steve Bennett
Man City scorers: Wright-Phillips 27, 56, Distin 48, Anelka 58, 72, Reyna 84
Bolton scorers: Nolan 25, Campo 60
Sent Off: Wright-Phillips 62

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HEAD TO HEAD TOTALS
League: Bolton 36 wins, Man City 37, Draws 22
Prem: Bolton 1 win, Man City 3, Draws 1

HEAD TO HEAD at Bolton
League: Bolton 26 wins, Man City 9, Draws 12
Prem: Bolton 1 win, Man City 0, Draws 1

ooh george oghani · 20-02-2004, 04:00 PM

What size boots does Okocha have ?

Nice details Rob . Prediction ?

robmcfc86 · 20-02-2004, 04:29 PM

Thanks to the BBC...

2-0 City

Have you seen our squad, KK is resorting to the young ones, Flood & McCarthy have never been in the first team squad. You may remember Jordan as he came on at the Reebok last year, where Barton made his debut too! Elliot was on the bench at OT but hasn't been put on yet.