please log in to view this image BOLTON WANDERERS v WATFORD please log in to view this image Venue: Macron Stadium Date: Saturday 14 February Kick-off: 15:00 GMT Yet another game at a 'B' team, Blackburn,Brentford etc. Every game seems now to be the most important game that we must try and get points from, yet a trip up to Bolton is anything but easy. Our talented mid-fielder Almen Abdi has been giving his view on things. “I think now the most important part of the season starts. Every game is like a final for us, and it starts now on Saturday against Bolton, which will be very tough. If we want to get promoted we have to win these types of games. We have to stick together and play as a team. I prefer to play bad and to win than to play good and lose. It’s a good sign to not play well and to still win games, it means we have great quality in the team,” said the Swiss international. Team News: Bolton boss Neil Lennon has a long injury list and is likely to be without seven first-team players again. Defender Matt Mills is available after a knee injury but Emile Heskey and Craig Davies are set to spend another week out with hamstring injuries Watford Hornets midfielder Gianni Munari faces a late test after a foot injury. Facts: Watford won the earlier meeting this season 3-0 at Vicarage Road. Watford's last win at the Macron Stadium was 2-1 in the old Division One in October 1998 Bolton are unbeaten in their last nine home games in the Championship, winning six. Watford have won four of their last five games. Current Championship Standings: 1 Middlesbrough 30 28 59 2 Bournemouth 30 33 58 3 Derby 30 30 58 4 Ipswich 30 18 54 5 Watford 30 25 53 6 Brentford 30 7 52 7 Norwich 30 21 50 13 Bolton 30 -7 37 Wherever you are in the world, Enjoy the Game
Thanks OFH. After winning fairly ugly for the last two games, then the Bournemouth farce, the spectacular 2nd half and the excellent Charlton, not sure what to think about this one. We've had such a mix recently. Abdi says this game could be like the Huddersfield game away and we know what happened there, got to make sure it's not repeated. I think we may be solid but not spectacular, so going for 1-2.
Thank you OFH. Can't add much more to what A1 said. I take my hat off to Jokanovic for his adventure on Tuesday night but cannot help thinking it would still be better to keep a bit of flair on the bench in case we need it late on. Still, if it ain't broke... COYH
Geoff Eltringham will referee Saturday's Championship fixture between Bolton and Watford at Macron Stadium. He has officiated 24 matches so far this season - issuing 63 yellow cards and seven red. Hope he has had an eye test recently. Assistant Referees: David Benton, Jason Tyas Fourth Official: Jeremy Simpson Beginning to think I have a obsession about match officials.
Forgot to mention - while the game is on today I'm going to be at Stamford v Ramsbottom Utd in the Evo-Stick Northern Premier (two levels down from the Conference, yes, I had to look that up too!). It's the same league as Blyth and FC United of Manchester. Never been to a non-league game before, so will be interesting to see the standard compared to the Championship. I know you'll all be dying to hear the result, so I'll post it later...I'll be keeping up to date with our game on the phone.
Bolton looked impressive in the televised FA Cup game against Liverpool. Wheater was dominant in defence, and Gudjohnsen and the young chap Clough very good in attack. I can see Angella having a hard time against Clough. Penalty? Sending off? It needed two moments of real quality for Liverpool to beat them. Can we replicate that?
Watford: Gomes; Ekstrand, Cathcart, Angella; Paredes, Abdi, Layun, Watson, Anya; Vydra, Ighalo. Watford: Bond (GK), Hoban, Pudil, Munari, Tozser, Forestieri, Deeney. Ekstrand, Abdi & Vydra, for Hoban, Tozser & Deeney. That looks a strange line up.
Blimey - no-one is safe. Deeney on the bench... Gomes; Ekstrand, Angella, Cathcart; Paredes, Abdi, Watson, Layun, Anya; Vydra, Ighalo.
I think it's more a case of Vydra being rewarded for his efforts from the bench in recent weeks, rather than Deeney being dropped. SJ would probably like to start all three forwards, but rightly thought better of it in a tough away fixture.
Bolton : Lonergan; Janko, Wheater, Ream, Dervite; Bannan, Danns, Vela, Feeney; Clough; Le Fondre. Bolton subs : Amos, Hall, Moxey, Twardzik, Eaves, Gudjohnsen, Slavchev.
Watford 01 Gomes 06 Ekstrand 04 Angella 15 Cathcart 14 Paredes 22 Abdi 23 Watson 07 Layun 21 Anya 20 Vydra 24 Ighalo Starting 11 then? Miss the old numbers really!
"Damp, dank day in Bolton" Seems that travel problems have prevented many fans getting to the ground.
Have a stream. Timesoccer.com. You have to try a few of the links they offer under Bolton v Watford as two of them are showing Bayern Munchen.
