Big game today, big test for city, lots of people will be looking how we face up again the big boys! (Hi big boy)! Bolton's new manager Dougie Freedman will be without goalkeeper Andy Lonergan and centre-back David Wheater who are out with knee injuries. Midfielder Stuart Holden and forward Josh Vela are also unavailable due to long-term knee problems. Cardiff are still without injured attacking duo Tommy Smith (hamstring) and Craig Bellamy (knee) while Matthew Connolly may continue at full-back. Midfielder Stephen McPhail is not yet ready to return to the first-team. MATCH FACTS Head-to-head ⢠Bolton's 1-0 victory in the third round of the FA Cup in December 1999, is the only occasion these clubs have faced each other in 22 years. ⢠They were last in the same division together in 1989/90, when Bolton did the double over the Bluebirds in the old Third Division. ⢠Cardiff have not picked up a single point at the Reebok Stadium, and have lost their last nine league trips to Bolton. They are winless in 13 visits in all competitions, subsequent to a 2-0 triumph in September 1970 in the old Second Division. Bolton Wanderers ⢠Dougie Freedman takes the reigns at the Reebok, as his new side challenge for a second win in seven league outings, and a first against a top-half club. ⢠This is Freedman's second managerial appointment after Crystal Palace where he lost his first match in caretaker capacity, and also his first match in permanent charge. In 22 months at Selhurst Park, he won 32 of 92 matches, a win rate of 35%, and picked upon 199 of 519 league points (38%). ⢠Mark Davies, who has started every game this season, is on the verge of his 100th league appearance for the Trotters. Cardiff City ⢠Cardiff are three points clear at the top of the table, but that may be reduced by kick-off time when their sights will be set on an unrivalled 10th Championship win, and sixth in seven outings. ⢠They go into the weekend joint top scorers in the division, with an unequalled five of their 26 goals coming in the first 15 minutes. ⢠All 28 points have been accumulated from games in which fewer than two goals were conceded, but should they let in one, it will take their total shipped in second level league football to 2,500.
We haven't got anything from this fixture for the last nine visits, but we haven't played them in the league for 22 years. Today is a different prospect, most of our prediction point to a win for us which is quite amazing. Also a huge fear that MM will do what he does away again! The interesting thing is the new management regime takes over today, but it will be all new to them, do we really feel that Lenny bless him is one to worry about?
It's the continuing injuries to Smith and Bellamy that bothers me. I know we have cover but you want you best 11 on the park as often as you can get them. We got a few important games soming up around Christmas.
But that's the difference from years gone by. If you took two first choice players out of our team over the last couple seasons we'd have struggled. We don't seem to have missed them. And they will come back. If they are both a few weeks away we may get them back by the end of the month which would be good timing as if the current players play 6 games in 4 weeks there are bound to be a couple more injuries and a couple who need a rest.
Leicester, the only side able to catch us today at least, three goals/points behind face a tricky one at frustrated Watford....seems to have unlucky results recently.
****........ ngog dived for the penalty, ****ing cheat.......... and why wasnt hudson given a penalty at the end?
Fugged most of the predictions.....bad start to November! Referee got it wrong on the two penalties, and a genuine goal ruled offside. Marshall nearly scored at the end. That's four players sent off against us in the last five games, would uhave been five if that penalty had been awarded ...is it our style of play? First defeat in red! Interesting....6 out of the last 8 teams top at this stage have gone up, so cheer up everyone!
Gutted! But the result seems fair when you consider they had a legitimate goal disallowed. Warnock, who should have been sent off earlier in the game for a second booking, definitely fouled Huds for the penalty shout. Ngog and Petrov stepped up to the mark and were the difference between both sides. Sometimes decisions don't go your way and refs are not consistant. Good to see the boys fight until the final whistle.
