City v Bolton – Match Preview And Stats

After qualifying for the knock-out stage of the Europa League it’s back to Premiership action for the blues as Bolton visit Eastlands.

The blues can potentially put some distance between themselves and the chasing pack with victory, should results elsewhere go their way. City will be confident of three points against Bolton, having been unbeaten in six league and European games since enduring a miserable 3-1 defeat at Lech Poznan.

During that run, City have conceded just two goals with both coming in away matches and haven’t conceded at Eastlands since the defeat to Arsenal back on 24 October.

Bolton sit in sixth place in the league, just three points behind City and needed to come from two goals down to draw 2-2 in their last game at home to Blackpool. On the road, Wanderers have won two from their seven away games so far but their only defeat came in September when they were beaten 4-1 at Arsenal.

Victory for the Trotters will put them level on points with City and throw the race for a Champions League place wide open.

Team News 

Mario Balotelli could be rewarded for his midweek double with another starting role despite his alleged bust up with team-mate Jerome Boateng. Midfielder Yaya Toure, who missed the victory over Salzburg with a migraine, could also return to the starting line up.

Adam Johnson will be hoping for a starting place after his performance on Wednesday resulted in a wonder goal that sealed the Europa League victory.

Bolton have injury worries over Stuart Holden but his replacement last week scored a brilliant goal against Blackpool and he will be hoping to retain his place. Martin Petrov will also be looking to appear against his former club for the first time.

Teams:

City (from): Hart, Richards, Bridge, Lescott, Boyata, De Jong, Vieira, Barry, Johnson, K Toure, Y Toure, Tevez, Silva, Adebayor, Balotelli, Kolarov, Given, Milner, Kompany, Boateng, Logan, Cunningham.

Bolton (from): Jaaskelainen, Bogdan, Cahill, Steinsson, Knight, Robinson, Lee, Holden, Muamba, Petrov, Cohen, K Davies, Elmander, M Davies, Blake, Taylor, Klasnic, Ricketts, Alonso, Moreno.

League Form (Last Five)

City: WDDWD

Bolton form: WDWWD

Prediction: City 3-0 Bolton

Although Bolton are a decent side, I think the blues will be too strong for them and personally I think 3-0 will flatter them.

Agree or disagree? Let us know

Stats and Facts

The blues have won just two of the last five games against the Trotters at Eastlands but in total have won 28 of the 49 top flight games played at home, with Bolton only walking away with the three points on 11 occasions. 

During this period, City have scored 93 goals against Bolton and have only conceded 55. In the Premiership, City have won five of the eight games played, scoring 14 goals in the process while Bolton have recorded just three wins, scoring eight times. There has not been a Premier League draw in this fixture in the Premiership.

City’s biggest home win over Bolton came in 1936 when the blues thumped the visitors 7-0 in front of a 40,000+ crowd at Maine Road while the heaviest defeat came as far back as 1919 when Bolton ran out 4-1 winners.

City’s biggest home attendance for this fixture was in April 1931 when over 53,000 crammed into Main Road to witness a 2-1 City defeat.

Former City and Bolton Players

Some of the players that have worn the blue of City and the white of Bolton include:

Ken Barnes, Francis Lee, Wyn Davies, Brian Kidd, Peter Barnes, Asa Hartford, Neil McNab, Andy May, Paul Warhurst, Colin Hendry, Alan Kernaghan, Peter Beardsley, Jamie Pollock, Nicolas Anelka, Tal Ben-Haim, Martin Petrov.

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