Bolton Wanderers V Tottenham Hotspur – Saturday 3rd October

 

English Premiership 2009/2010

 

 

Bolton Wanderers V Tottenham Hotspur

 

 

Kick-off: Saturday 3^rd October – 15:00 GMT

Venue: The Reebok

 

 

 

Bolton Wanderers

 

League Position: 13th

Recent Form: LLWDW

 

 

Bolton surprised many with their victory away at Birmingham last Saturday, beating Alex McLeish’s side 2-1 at St. Andrews. Goals from Tamir Cohen, his third of the season, while new signing, Chung-Yong Lee, scored his first ever goal at Bolton with a neat little finish inside the Birmingham box. Somewhat surprisingly, that was not only Bolton’s fifth goals of the season but it was also their second away win this term, but, however, Bolton return back home to The Reebok, a venue they’ve have failed to win at in three attempts this season, may not be welcomed with open arms. An even worse statistic for Gary Megson to digest is the one where Bolton haven’t won in six home games, stretching back April this year.

 

Bolton’s poor record at home in recent outings simply has to be rectified if they are to cling onto their Premiership status. However, they won’t appreciate being handed a fixture with an inform Spurs, a side who have won twice on their travels already this season. The Bolton fans will need to come out in their droves and urge their players on if they are to attain a positive result from what is a very touch home fixture.

 

Sunderland & Liverpool have both gotten the better of Bolton at The Reebok stadium, whilst Stoke City caused Bolton all sorts of problems when they came a calling, holding Bolton to a 1-1 draw in Bolton’s most recent home encounter in the league. The Reebok needs to be a fortress if Bolton are to have an enjoyable season but it’s hard to see where their regular goals will come from, despite the fact that Bolton have scored in four games on the spin now, five if you include their 3-1 victory in the Carling Cup against West Ham. For now, the likes of Tamir Cohen & Matty Taylor are chipping in but Bolton fans need their strikers to come good. Kevin Davies and Johan Elmander really do need to become a lot more clinical in the final third because the pair seriously aren’t cutting it at the moment.

 

 

 

Tottenham Hotspur

 

League Position: 4^th

Recent Form: WWLLW

 

 

 

Tottenham responded in emphatic fashion to two straight defeats against two of the ‘Big Four’ by smashing Burnley off the park in last weekend’s clash at White Hart Lane. Robbie Keane bagged four on the day while Jermaine Jenas scored his first league goal of the season, with Spurs comfortably running out 5-0 victors over Burnley. That was Tottenham’s fifth win of the season, their third at home, but now they travel to a tough venue where an awkward Bolton side lye in waiting.

 

The trip to Bolton does present manager Harry Redknapp will a completely different assignment to the one last weekend against Owen Coyle’s, Burnley. Bolton are a side that look to use their physical aurora to their advantage so Redknapp may have to make a few changes for Tottenham’s fourth away fixture of the season. Peter Crouch was left out of the starting line-up against Burnley but his aerial ability does make him a solid pick against a Bolton side with plenty of height. A player who would have been ideal, but isn’t available, is Johnthan Woodgate. The former England international is apparently nowhere near returning to training so Tom Huddlestone and Corluka could form an unconvincing centre-back partnership.

 

Tottenham, despite two defeats recently against Chelsea & Manchester United, are in a very prominent position in fourth position, just three points adrift of leaders Man Utd. They shown great resilience and character at the weekend by hammering Burnley after those two disappointing results and it appears Spurs are back to their confident, free-scoring self. However, Jermaine Defoe will be a minor doubt after dislocating a finger in their win over Burnley at the weekend but he should be fine to start, whether that’s alongside a four-star Robbie Keane or Peter Crouch is anyone’s guess.

 

 

 

Head-to-Head:

 

 

Bolton Wanderers W: 5 Tottenham Hotspur W: 3 Draws: 2

 

 

Bolton haven’t actually faired too bad in previous meetings, actually, they’ve done extremely well, especially at The Reebok. Tottenham have failed to beat Bolton at The Reebok in their previous nine visits in all competitions. Four of the last five encounters at the home of Bolton have gone the way of the home side, with Bolton winning 3-2 in the very last meeting between the two at The Reebok last season. Tottenham’s better results against Bolton have generally come at White Hart Lane.

 

 

Over 2.5 Goals: 4 Under 2.5 Goals: 6

 

 

In general, this has been a tight affair, with normally a goal or two enough to determine the winner. Last season the pair played out a thrilling 3-2 home win, whereas the previous three encounters at The Reebok has finished with no more than 2 goals. Just two of the last eight meetings in Bolton have finished Over 2.5, so not the ideal game to be backing goals in.

 

 

 

Match Verdict: Draw – 5/2 Bet365

 

This will be seen as a strange selection,m especially as just two of the last eight meetings at The Reebok have finished in a draw. However, the home advantage for Bolton should cancel out the class and form of Tottenham Hotspur. This hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for Spurs in the past and, with that in mind, we fancy both sides to be fairly happy with a share of the spoils in a DRAW. Although Tottenham did score five at the weekend, Bolton don’t generally concede too many at The Reebok, so a tight game is expected, with goals perhaps few and far between.

 

 

 

Match Odds:

 

 

Bolton Wanderers – 16/5 SkyBet

 

Tottenham Hotspur – Evens Boylesports

 

Draw – 5/2 Bet365

 

 

 

SoccerBetting Tip: Under 2.5 Goals – 43/40 Bet365