Bolton Wanderers V Fulham Betting: Saturday, 6th February

Bolton Wanderers V Fulham

Saturday, 6^th February – 15:00 GMT

Bolton Wanderers

League Position: 16th

Recent Form: DLLWL

Owen Coyle will surely fancy his sides chances of earning a valuable set of three points and bettering their poor run of just one win in their last six when Fulham pay them a visit this Saturday. Bolton, despite a lot of defeats of late, have been putting in some decent tea displays under Owen Coyle and were it not for some tough opening fixtures, Coyle might have been celebrating a few more wins. As it is, Bolton have scummed to defeat at Liverpool, and lost twice to Arsenal, but do have a pleasing home win in between after beating Burnley 1-0 a fortnight ago.

On paper, this run of theirs (losing three of their last four) does make them appear a poor bet this weekend but that’s not the case as Bolton haven’t lost a league fixture against a team not touted as a ‘Top Four’ team since the 5^th December when they lost 1-0 at Wolves. Moreover, their only home defeat in four came against an Arsenal side chasing the league title, and even then Bolton weren’t disgraced as they created more than enough chances against the Gunners to worthy at least a point.

Under Owen Coyle, Bolton already look a different side but still have their tough, physical characteristics, which makes Bolton more than just a one dimensional side. The former Burnley manager has got this Bolton side playing proper ‘On the floor’ football and it should pay off sooner or later. On Saturday, Bolton took on Liverpool at Anfield and could of took the lead within the first few minutes when Cohen missed a one-on-one with Pepe Reina before Lee has an effort cleared off the line. Coyle has made Bolton more of a threat when going forward instead of just being an aerial threat and a set-piece specialist. They now possess the ability and know-how to carve out opportunities from open play instead of waiting for set-plays and this will result in Bolton scoring plenty more goals under Owen Coyle than they ever did under Megson. 

If Bolton replicate their performances from their games with Arsenal & Liverpool then they shouldn’t have a problem claiming all three points on Saturday. Fulham are a side faltering and are there to be had on Saturday. Bolton are facing a Fulham side who have lost their previous four away league encounters, with their last two being to NIL, but with this information comes added pressure as now Bolton, who have been the underdogs in games of late, now become the favourites to win and we aren’t completely confident that they have the strength of mind to handle the expectancy.

Fulham

League Position: 10th

Recent Form: LLLLW

Fulham put an end to their miserable losing streak with a victory over a cash-strapped Portsmouth at Craven Cottage on Wednesday night. However, Fulham were far from convincing in a game they should have win at a cantor, and with Fulham losing their previous four away encounters, surely the Cottagers are of little value in this clash with an ‘on-the-up’ Bolton side.

Fulham did win on their last visit to The Reebok when they beat a then Gary Megson Bolton side 3-1. However, Fulham’s away flaws have really come to light in such a short space of time and haven’t picked up an away point since early December when they drew 1-1 at Burnley. Since then, Fulham have lost four away games on the spine, not including their away victory at Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup, in which they struggled for the best part of 75 minutes in that game. They’ve also not scored in their last two outings in the league. Yet another statistic which further dampens their odds of winning this clash.

To be brutally honest, despite tipping them to win in midweek, we can’t see Fulham ending their away drought at The Reebok on Saturday despite earning a 3-1 victory their last season. Their narrow and fortunate 1-0 victory over Portsmouth in midweek ended a five match losing rut of which four were away from home. They’ve been nothing short of terrible in their recent away outings, not scoring in either of their trips to Tottenham & Blackburn while they found themselves 3-0 down at the break to a usually toothless Stoke City at The Brittania. In our opinion, a draw would be a very good result for Roy Hodgeson and Fulham but they’ll do well to earn a point at The Reebok. 

Fulham haven’t won an away fixture in the Premiership since the opening day of the season when they beat Portsmouth 1-0 at Fratton Park. They are on a run of eleven games without an away win; Drawing 4, Losing 7.

Match Verdict: Bolton Wanderers to WIN – 2.38 SkyBet

Fulham aren’t playing well at the moment whereas Bolton have been but haven’t been getting the right results nor picking up too many points. However, we expect the latter remark to chance on Saturday as Bolton aim to make it two wins in seven at the expense of a Fulham side that have lost their previous four away fixtures in the Premiership. Moreover, Bolton have been playing some attractive, attacking football of late while Fulham have been vulnerable and exposed at the back. It would be typical for the sides to reverse their respective forms, with Bolton not turning up and Fulham ending their baron away run of eleven away games without a win, but we don’t see that happening and Bolton are the bet to be on we feel.

Match Odds:

Bolton Wanderers – 2.38 SkyBet

Draw – 3.40 SkyBet

Fulham – 3.25 Bet365

SoccerBetting Value Pick: Bolton Wanderers to Score 2 or more goals – 5/4 PaddyPower