Bolton were turned over by Lancashire rivals Burnley on
Saturday on their return to life in the Championship. The defeat would have
been a sore one to take for manager Owen Coyle as it came against his former
club but there’s a further 45 games to be played in the league so I doubt he’ll
be too worried. In truth, Bolton played pretty well, especially in the opening
hour but they never took advantage when they were on top and paid the ultimate
price as the home side were clinical when prevented with opportunities. The
players have not had to wait long to make amends, however, as they play their
first home game of the season tonight. Coyle will be stressing to his players
the significance of a win tonight. Not only would it be their first victory, it
would show their powers of recovery after defeat against Burnley and also lay
down a marker that they intended to make the Reebok something of a fortress.
Derby squandered a two goal lead against newly promoted
Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday at Pride Park and will be rueing the fact that
they were unable to see the game out as Wednesday scored very late on to rescue
a point. Nigel Clough is now in his fourth full season in charge of the club
and will be hoping to build on the progress his side made last year when they eventually
finished 12th – their highest league placing under Clough. Not
blessed with the finances of certain clubs in the division, County have had to
make do with the limited resources they have available to them but football
supporters are a demanding lot and the Derby faithful will be hoping to mount
some sort of challenge of the play-offs. Tonight’s match will be a very good
test of where they are at in terms of the Championship and what they can expect
from the season ahead.
Coyle has admitted that he would like to strengthen the
midfield area and has been linked with Jay Spearing of Liverpool in recent
days. He will have to go with what he has for the moment and as I alluded to
during my preview of the Championship, one of the best bit’s of businesses he
could wish to do is keep hold of Mark Davies who is very much the playmaker in
the middle of the park.
County are very much a Jekyll and Hyde type of team as they
are capable of beating anyone on their day but they all too often disappoint
and that’s why they have never achieved anything other than a mid-table finish
under Clough’s rein. This was no more evident than on Saturday as they raced into
a 2-0 lead only to fall out of the match and lose two points as a result.
Finding consistency is going to be key if they wish to better themselves this
year.
I have tipped Bolton for the league and promotion already
and I’m not losing faith even though they were turned over by Burnley. It was a
derby match and it was just about the hardest match they could have wished for
considering the role of Owen Coyle. I very much believe they will get their season
up and going tonight by taking all three points against Derby.
Bolton 8/11 @ Totesport
