Bolton v Wigan preview

Contrasting midweek fortunes for two Premier League relegation candidates sees battered Bolton hoping for home comforts when they play host to a Wigan side, who stunned Liverpool last time out.

Hugo Rodallega’s first-half strike on Monday night was colossal for manager Roberto Martinez as it ensured the Latics’ first ever victory over the Reds to give the Greater Manchester club’s hopes of survival a shot in the arm.

Martinez’s men, who are now 15th and a point off the Trotters, will be on cloud nine after the DW Stadium scalp and they make the short journey across Lancashire hoping to improve their unhealthy away record – which has seen them win just once in nine.

Bolton are another team who have been prone to a nosebleed on their travels and last Saturday’s rare success at West Ham was quickly cancelled out by the emphatic 4-0 reverse to Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday.

Owen Coyle’s side, who became the first team to lose to the Black Cats in 15 games, return to the Reebok Stadium grateful to be back at a ground where they boast an impressive record of late.

The Trotters have only lost one of their last seven games on home turf and Coyle has managed to rectify the club’s defensive plight that plagued them at the start of the campaign with three shut-outs in a row in front of the Whites faithful.

And history tells that when these two teams meet goals are few and far between with the net rippling just twice in their last four top-flight meetings.
Team news

Bolton expect to have midfielder Tamir Cohen back in the squad for the relegation clash with Wigan after serving a one-match ban following his dismissal against the Hammers.

But the Lancashire outfit will be forced to shuffle their backline after Sam Ricketts’ red card in Tuesday’s 4-0 defeat at Sunderland.

The full-back, who has impressed in the heart of defence in Gary Cahill’s absence, serves a one-match suspension after picking up two yellow cards meaning Coyle should bring Andy O’Brien into the fold to partner Zat Knight.

Bolton’s engine room also remains worryingly light with Sean Davis (knee), Chris Basham (knee), Stuart Holden (broken leg), Gavin McCann and Mark Davies (both ankle/foot) no nearer a first-team return.

The injured midfield quintet still have at least another month on the sidelines so Coyle will have to rely on Fabrice Muamba and Jack Wilshire to shake off knocks picked up in the Stadium of Light trouncing.

The Trotters can take solace in the news that five-goal centre-back Cahill could return to full training next week as he stepped up his rehabilitation from a blood clot in his arm.

Wigan, meanwhile, have no fresh injury worries ahead of his their trip to Bolton in the Premier League this weekend and Martinez is expected to stick with the same XI that beat Rafa Benitez’s top-four hopefuls.

Captain Mario Melchiot remains on the sidelines with a thigh problem so Emerson Boyce is likely to continue to fill in at right-back while January arrival Steve Gohouri continues to work towards full fitness and is not expected to travel.

Possible starting XIs

Bolton : Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Knight, A O’Brien, Robinson, Lee, Muamba, Cohen, Wilshere, K Davies, Elmander

Wigan: Kirkland, Boyce, Bramble, Caldwell, Figueroa, N’Zogbia, Diame, Thomas, Scharner, Rodallega, Moreno