Sunderland V Bolton Wanderers

Saturday, 9^th January – 15:00 GMT

MATCH POSTPONED – We regrettably have to inform you that the following game has been postponed due to severe weather conditions. Although the pitch has been confirmed as ‘playable’ the surrounding area; roads, pathways, steps etc… have been deemed a hazard and a risk to those fans who will attend the game. 

Sunderland

League Position: 10th

Recent Form: DLLDD

(Five of Sunderland’s six victories thus far have come at The Stadium of Light)

It was relatively plain sailing for Sunderland in the FA Cup last Saturday, cruising past non-league Barrow with a 3-0 victory. Fraizer Campbell, a player who has only featured in a handful of games for Sunderland this season, scored a brace against Barrow whilst playing the role of assistant in Sunderland’s third, so perhaps his classy display will put him into Steve Bruce’s starting equation ahead of their home fixture with Bolton in a game Sunderland have to win to banish their poor run of league form.

Funnily enough, goalscorers aren’t what Sunderland are lacking at the moment but are more in need of some quality defenders. Frazier Campbell’s double on Saturday probably won’t be enough for him to squirm into Steve Bruce’s starting eleven as Kenwyn Jones & Darren Bent look set to continue their fruitful run at the front of the Sunderland attack. However, even against lower league opposition, Sunderland’s defence still looked very shaky and that will bring about a great deal of stress for manager Steve Bruce, especially as Sunderland have conceded seven in their last four league games.

A 1-0 victory over Arsenal at The Stadium of Light was not only Sunderland’s very last victory in the league but also the last time they kept a team at bay for the full 90 minutes. A full eight games ago. Sunderland have since failed nor record neither a victory or a clean sheet and it wouldn’t be at all surprising to see Steve Bruce splashing the cash on another defender in January, especially as Lee Catermole, a defensive midfielder who was stealing all the plaudits earlier on in the season, is still out injured and Anton Ferdinand is still out with a foot injury.

At The Stadium of Light, Sunderland have fared a whole lot better than on their travels, with five of their six victories this season coming at home. They have, however, failed to win any of their previous three home fixtures; drawing 1-1 with both Everton & Portsmouth, while losing 2-0 to Aston Villa. This is every increasing run of not wining at home is Sunderland’s longest since late April last year but another failed attempt at home to Bolton would stretch their win less home run to 4 games, what would be their longest home run without a win in nearly four years.

Bolton Wanderers

League Position: 18th

Recent Form: LDWDD

(Bolton haven’t kept a single clean sheet this season – 18 failed attempts at a shut-out)

Bolton will have a few watchful onlookers in this fixtures, more notably Burnley’s Owen Coyle, or has the time come to announce that it’s the former Burnley gaffer as his arrival at Bolton draws nearer. Coyle is already a big hit with the fans before he’s even put pen to paper, which is a lot further than Megson ever got with the fans, so at least Coyle has a solid fan base to kick off his relegation threatened season with.

The mission for Owen Coyle, should he accept it, is to guide Bolton away from the pit of the table, but Burnley’s miracle worker will more than likely have to be content with watching from a far on Saturday, and what he will be watching is a Bolton side without a win in their last five away outings aiming to end their away drought with a surprise win at The Stadium of Light, a venue where Bolton won 4-1 at last season.

A successful campaign for Bolton usually evolves around survival, and their ability to avoid relegation in past seasons has solely been down to their stubbornness in defence, a factor that has gone missing with their play this season under former manager, Gary Megson. Bolton are the only team in the Premiership not to keep a single clean sheet in the league after 18 fixtures, meaning they’ve conceded in each and every one of their eight away outings this season but have, more importantly, been shipping on average two goals a game on the road, which is a sure-fire recipe for trouble.

Bolton’s chances in this fixture look slim going by their poor away record this season, but this four match unbeaten run may coincide with their hunger to impress and this, in theory, could produce a big yet surprising victory on Tyneside. Bolton will need to use their inferior stature to assert themselves in a game where Sunderland should outplay them in the footballing department, but Bolton could over roar the home side if they rattle the Sunderland players with some tough but fair challenges, and some strong aerial work from set-pieces, something Gary Megson tried to import into the team’s style of play but, to some degree, failed.

Head-to-Head (Last 10):

Sunderland W: 2 Bolton Wanderers W: 4 Draws: 3

Bolton prospered on their previous visit to The Stadium of Light, smashing Sunderland 4-1 last season via goals from players that are still at the club in Cahill, Taylor and a brace from Elmander. However, Bolton fell to defeat at The Reebok when the pair met back in August, the first game of the season for both teams, losing 1-0.

Sunderland haven’t actually fared too well at home against Bolton, winning just one of four meetings on Teeside, that win coming over two years ago. Also, Bolton have failed to score at The Stadium of Light in just on of their four visits to Sunderland.

Match Verdict: Sunderland to WIN – 1.95 Bet365

A point would be a good result for Bolton, whereas it will be seen as two points dropped for Sunderland. The Black Cats will be licking their lips, though, at the prospect of ending their baron run without a win as manager-less Bolton come to town. Their opponents haven’t managed an away victory since late September, and have since gone on to lose three of their following five away fixtures. Sunderland haven’t exactly been setting the world alight recently and are without a win themselves in seven games, but the Black Cats are a top ten side in the making and should be brushing teams like Bolton, who are serious relegation candidates, aside with ease. Darren Bent & Co should enjoy themselves at Jussi Jaaskelainen’s expense.

Match Odds:

Sunderland – 1.95 Bet365

Draw – 3.40 totesport

Bolton Wanderers – 4.50 SkyBet

SoccerBetting Value Tip: Matthew Taylor FGS – 12/1 Coral