Bolton and Chelsea meet in the Barclays Premier League with both teams enjoying contrasting fortunes.
The Trotters have endured a torrid first few weeks of the season having lost five matches in a row since their opening day 4-0 win over newly-promoted QPR. Manager Owen Coyle is not under any significant pressure just yet but with Wanderers rock bottom of the table, the Scot will know that he will have to turn the team’s fortunes around quickly.
Unfortunately they will be attempting to do that against a Chelsea side that appears to have rediscovered its mojo. While the first three fixtures of the campaign gleaned ten points, they were rarely convincing and bizarrely it was the 3-1 defeat to Manchester Untied that signalled their return to form. A match where the scoreline could easily have been reversed has been followed by a comfortable win over Swansea City and an excellent display away at Valencia in the Champions League in which only profligate finishing prevented them from returning from Spain with all three points.
The good news for Coyle is that the reborn Fernando Torres will be suspended for the match at the Reebok Stadium following his red card last weekend though familiar face Daniel Sturridge is expected to fill his shoes and the England Under 21 international will be keen to put in a good performance against the club he served so well on loan earlier this year. Bolton will have to do without David Wheater and Ivan Klasnic who are also serving suspensions and are likely to be without first choice goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen as well through injury.
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