Bolton are really struggling in the Premier League and they should be bigger than the prices on offer this weekend to beat Stoke.
Having impressed so much under Owen Coyle last season, Bolton were expected to more than hold their own once again in the English top flight but a bad run of injuries and a lack of confidence sees Wanderers currently languishing in the drop zone.
Back-to-back defeats against Sunderland and most recently Swansea has Bolton in nineteenth place at present and they are leaking goals with alarming regularity.
Nobody has conceded more than Coyle’s boys domestically, it is an incredible 27 goals shipped in just ten matches, and there is no doubt that Bolton are already embroiled in a relegation battle.
Eight defeats in that period, Bolton are yet to draw a game, spells real trouble and it now seems like an awfully long time ago since their 4-0 win over QPR on the opening day. All they have to show for their efforts since then is a 3-1 triumph over bottom club Wigan and Bolton are sure to be tested by an ever-determined Stoke side on Sunday.
Tony Pullis takes his team to the JJB having travelled to Israel with his troops for Europa League action Thursday, Stoke beat Maccabi Tel Aviv 2-1, but the Welsh manager has a big squad at his disposal these days and I’ve very few concerns that they’ll be able to cope.
The demands of European football are never easy for the first time but that must be part of the reason Bolton are no bigger than 2.50 to claim what would be a welcome three points and I see Stoke being easily good enough for at least a share of the spoils.
Having already registered four wins on their travels this season, Stoke have proved themselves more than capable of getting a result away from The Britannia and another triumph in the north-west would be no surprise at all given Bolton’s current plight.
1pt Lay Bolton (vs. Stoke) @ 2.50 (Betfair)