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Simon Grayson expects Bolton Wanderers to be a different proposition to the side many other League One clubs faced earlier in the season.
The Seasiders make the short trip to the University of Bolton Stadium on Monday night to face the team that currently props up the league table.
While Keith Hill’s side are still looking for their first win this season, Grayson says that record is slightly misleading given Bolton were forced to start the campaign by playing their youth team.
Now a raft of experienced players have been brought in following the completion of their takeover, Bolton’s results have improved in recent weeks with a creditable draw against Sunderland and a narrow defeat at Portsmouth.
“At least we now know what personnel they have got and what they have been playing recently,” Grayson said.
“They’ve had some good results in the last few weeks with the better and stronger squad they’ve got.
“I said a few weeks ago it’s a strange position to be in where some clubs will be moaning it’s a guaranteed three points in the early part of the season.
“But other teams down the bottom will be saying they’re happy because it gives them more of a fighting chance to stay in the division with Bolton not picking up points.
“But it’s about how they’re doing now and we know they’ve got some experienced players.
“Daryl Murphy, Liam Bridcutt, Will Buckley and Jack Hobbs are all experienced players in the Championship.
“They played well against Portsmouth last weekend and Sunderland the game before.”
The Seasiders will be without both Rocky Bushiri and Jordan Thompson for Monday night’s game due to the pair being called up for international duty.
But Grayson is hopeful of having one or two players back from injury after Nathan Delfouneso, Sullay Kaikai and Joe Nuttall missed the 2-1 win against Lincoln City.
Mark Howard is not yet fit enough to be considered for the first team despite featuring for the reserves.
‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’
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Bolton Pre Match Thread on 13:23 - Oct 4 with 215 views
‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’
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Bolton Pre Match Thread on 13:34 - Oct 4 with 211 views
Bolton Wanderers: University of Bolton Stadium Capacity: 28,723 (all seated) Club Nickname: The Trotters Year Ground Opened: 1997
From the outside the stadium looks simply stunning and can be seen for miles around. I still think the view of it driving down the slip road from the M61 motorway, is one of the greatest sights to be seen in English football, especially when it is lit up at night. It has a great eye-catching design and is unlike anything else in the country.
The inside is functional and tidy, but not unsurprisingly lacks the wow factor of the stadium's external appearance. It is totally enclosed and each stand has a conventional rectangular lower tier, with a semi-circular upper tier above. Situated between the two tiers is a row of executive boxes. Above the stands, there is a gap between the back of the stands and the roof to allow additional light to reach the pitch. The roofs are then topped with some diamond shaped floodlights that sit above a striking supporting tubular steel supporting structure. There is a large video screen in one corner, situated between the South and Nat Lofthouse Stands. One unusual feature of the ground is that the teams emerge from separate tunnels on either side of the halfway line. Outside the stadium is a statue of former player and legend Nat Lofthouse.
In August 2018 the stadium was renamed the University of Bolton Stadium in a sponsorship stadium. Previously it had been called the Macron Stadium and before that the Reebok Stadium when it was first opened in 1997.
Record Attendance
At The University of Bolton Stadium 28,353 v Leicester City Premier League, 28th December 2003.
At Burnden Park: 69,912 v Manchester City FA Cup 5th Round, 18th February 1933.
Simon Grayson delivers his verdict on Bolton ahead of Blackpool fixture
Blackpool manager Simon Grayson admits that his side will be facing a very different threat from Bolton Wanderers to the one they posed at the start of the season, as reported by the Blackpool Gazette.
The Seasiders are set to travel to the University of Bolton Stadium this weekend to face the side rooted to the bottom of the table. With a points tally still in minus figures and just two goals scored all season, it looks to be a straightforward encounter on paper.
However, they’ve conceded fewer at home than Wycombe, Peterborough and Lincoln and the same as Blackpool, as well as having a raft of fresh faces slowly gaining match fitness. One advantage for Grayson is at least knowing the sort of lineup they’re going to face.
“At least we now know what personnel they have got and what they have been playing recently,” Grayson said.
“They’ve had some good results in the last few weeks with the better and stronger squad they’ve got. I said a few weeks ago it’s a strange position to be in where some clubs will be moaning it’s a guaranteed three points in the early part of the season.
“But other teams down the bottom will be saying they’re happy because it gives them more of a fighting chance to stay in the division with Bolton not picking up points.”
He said that their past results are not important anymore as he listed several players that Blackpool will need to be wary of.
“But it’s about how they’re doing now and we know they’ve got some experienced players. Daryl Murphy, Liam Bridcutt, Will Buckley and Jack Hobbs are all experienced players in the Championship.”
The Tangerines are currently sixth in the table, five points behind leaders Ipswich Town.
Our View
Simon Grayson is right; Bolton are a different prospect now. It’s not just the players he’s listed either; the Stoke youngster Verlinden is a real livewire and the other young players are growing in confidence all the time.
It won’t be long before they find themselves picking up points and closing the 12 point gap between themselves and AFC Wimbledon.
As for Blackpool anything other than a win would be a poor result, but there’s a banana skin here just waiting for an unsuspecting team to take a slip.
Learning to read clusters is not something your eyes do naturally. It takes constant practice.
Liam Feeney is looking forward to renewing acquaintances when Blackpool take on his former side Bolton Wanderers on Monday night.
The winger made over 80 appearances for the Trotters over two seasons, initially joining on loan from Millwall in 2014.
He later rejoined Bolton on a permanent deal, remaining at the University of Bolton Stadium for a further three years.
The current Bolton side is a much different one to the squads he will have been a part of, but that's not stopping him from looking forward to locking horns with his former employers.
“It’s a bit strange but I’ve already played against them once or twice before. It’s been a while so it will be nice to go back," he said.
“It’s a lovely stadium but we’re in good form so it would be nice to go back and get a positive result.
“It’s been well documented the problems that have gone on at Bolton over the last two or three years.
“But they’ve got a new squad now and they’re a different proposition for every team that faces them.
“They had some difficult games earlier in the season with their results, but that’s probably going to stop now and they’re going to be looking for an upturn, so we expect a difficult game.
“I think it’s going to be difficult. They’ll have the crowd behind them and they’ve got the new manager and the new players who are all looking to play for a position and show what they can do.
“We’ve just got to make sure we go there and show our qualities and hopefully we can get the result.”
While Bolton are without a win and remain rooted to the bottom of the League One table, Keith Hill's side have seen improvements in recent weeks.
They earned a creditable draw against Sunderland before losing narrowly to Portsmouth last week.
An extra element was added to the fixture when it was moved for TV coverage, with the game being aired live on Sky Sports at 8pm on Monday.
“It’s nice, it’s not too often the cameras are down so it’s always a nice thing for the boys to show what they can do and express themselves," Feeney said.
“It’s a good thing, but it doesn’t add any pressure or anything like that because you don’t really remember the cameras are there when the game starts.
‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’
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Bolton Pre Match Thread on 07:29 - Oct 6 with 178 views
For this match, we think that Bolton Wanderers are capable enough to find the net against this Blackpool team, although one goal may not quite be enough to avoid defeat. We therefore reckon that it will be a close game with a 1-2 win
Team Focus: Bolton Wanderers Formed: 1874 Nickname: The Trotters Stadium: University of Bolton Stadium (28,723) Captain: Liam Bridcutt Chairman: Sharon Brittan Manager: Keith Hill Competitions: League One position 23, EFL Trophy (Group F - North)
Analysis of their past results shows that Bolton Wanderers:
- have not been beaten in the league by Blackpool in their previous 6 games. - haven't beaten Blackpool in their last 2 league games. - are without a win at home for the past 3 league games.
Learning to read clusters is not something your eyes do naturally. It takes constant practice.
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Wanderers welcome Simon Grayson’s Blackpool to the University of Bolton Stadium on Monday evening.
Blackpool currently sit fifth in Sky Bet League One at the time of writing and they are unbeaten in their last three matches.
Their last game against Lincoln City ended in a 2-1 victory for the Seasiders, with Sean Scannell and Jordan Thompson on the scoresheet.
Team News
Following on from our last game against Blackpool in the Leasing.com Trophy last Tuesday, manager Keith Hill confirmed that all his players came through, with no new injury concerns for him and his staff to think about.
New signing Joe Dodoo could be in line to make his debut for the club, following his signing last Thursday.
Head to Head
Wanderers and Blackpool have faced each other a whopping 117 occasions since the first encounter back in 1896, with us coming out on top in 43 of those meetings.
The two teams have drawn on 31 occasions and Blackpool have 33 victories to their name in clashes between the two sides.
The last time the two teams met at the University of Bolton Stadium was not so long ago in the Football League Trophy, in October 2016.
We came out on top with a 1-0 victory, as Sammy Ameobi scored on the fourth minute to earn Wanderers the three points.
Match Coverage:
As usual, match updates will be provided by the club’s official twitter account (@OfficialBWFC). We will keep you up to date with the action to ensure you don’t miss a kick — delivering a match report shortly after the final whistle with post-match reaction from manager, Keith Hill.
Live commentary will also be available by the iFollow BWFC channel (subscribe via the website), with the BBC Radio Manchester team providing the coverage.
Betting Odds
Blackpool are the favourites heading into this one. The away side are fancied to take this one by Sky Bet and are priced at 3/4 at the time of writing.
Wanderers are priced at 10/3 to register a first victory of the 2019/20 campaign and you can get the draw at 13/5.
Man in the Middle:
John Busby will be the referee for this evening’s Sky Bet League One clash with Blackpool.
He has officiated 11 matches this season with his latest a 2-0 home victory for Burton Albion against Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup.
This season, he has dished out 41 yellow cards and four red cards.
During his five seasons in the professional refereeing ranks, Busby has never taken charge of a Wanderers fixture before.
Graeme Fyvie and Chris Isherwood will act as his assistants, with Robert Lewis the fourth official for this evening’s fixture.
Key Men for the Seasiders:
When looking at the Blackpool side, Armand Gnanduillet and Liam Feeney are names that stand out for Grayson’s men.
Midfielder Feeney is no stranger to Wanderers fans, having spent two years at Bolton (2014-2016) following a successful loan spell at the University of Bolton Stadium.
He currently tops the assists chart in the entirety of Sky Bet League One, chalking up seven assists so far this campaign.
Looking to Gnanaduillet, the Ivorian is the Seasiders current top goal scorer in all competitions, with six goals to his name.
He started off the season in fantastic form, scoring five goals in his first seven outings in this division.
Learning to read clusters is not something your eyes do naturally. It takes constant practice.
Looking for the elusive first win of the season, Bolton Wanderers return to League One action tonight to face local rivals Blackpool.
Live in front of the Sky cameras, Wanderers face an in form Blackpool side, unbeaten in three games & riding high in fifth place.
The Tangerines haven’t visited the UNIBOL for three years, when they were narrowly beaten 1-0 by Wanderers in the Football League Trophy. It’s the first time in five seasons that the two teams have been in the same division.
A few familiar faces will be on show in orange; Mark Howard, Liam Feeney & Jay Spearing.
A former Tangerine loanee could make his Wanderers debut tomorrow. Last Thursday, Joe Dodoo signed on a free transfer until the end of the season after being released by Rangers.
There’s hope that Jake Wright and Chris O’Grady could be involved, though Keith Hill plays his cards close to his chest so who knows.
Despite requests to delay his call-up, Northern Ireland international Jordan Thompson will miss the match. Nathan Delfouneso, Sullay Kaikai and Joe Nuttal all face late fitness tests.
Blackpool are obviously the favourites with the bookies with odds of 3/4. A Wanderers win is 10/3 whilst a draw is 13/5.
With season tickets kickstarting & an official kit finally here, lets hope the first win isn’t too far away.
Learning to read clusters is not something your eyes do naturally. It takes constant practice.
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