Coventry 2-1 Bolton

This will be an interesting game with Cov currently in the playoff places and on a good run of results.
We played well at home against a poor Tranmere side but this will be a much sterner test for Hill's revamped squad and a better indicator of whether or not there is still any chance whatsoever of clawing our way out of the relegation zone.
Psychologically important too as a win at St Andrew's would instil the belief that it's still on the cards, but I can't see it happening.
My head says we'll lose, albeit narrowly (say 2 -1) but my heart says that the team will find a new confidence and nick the points in this tricky away fixture.

They played extra time and penalties mid-week so lets hope they are still knackered!

I fancy we'll get a draw.

Dicked 4-0.

Natasha Whittam wrote:Dicked 4-0.

 Enough about what you did last, what score will the match be?

Once is enough for me, Eric's so big I get friction burns on my inner thighs.

Natasha Whittam wrote:Once is enough for me, Eric's so big I get friction burns on my inner thighs.

I feel sorry for him as he must be on first name terms at the V.D clinic.

Natasha Whittam wrote:Once is enough for me, Eric's so big I get friction burns on my inner thighs.

The friction burns are from walking.

Preview: Coventry City (A)

Wanderers make the trip to St.Andrew’s Trillion Trophy Stadium tomorrow to take on promotion-chasing Coventry City in Sky Bet League One.

Coventry are currently 5th in the table and in a good position to try and break into the automatic promotion places currently occupied by Rotherham United and Wycombe Wanderers.

Mark Robins’ side had embarked on a run to the fourth round of the Emirates FA Cup but were beaten on penalties in an ‘away tie’ against Birmingham City at their shared home earlier this week.

City come into the weekend’s match buoyed by a run which has seen them go seven league matches unbeaten. Edged out in mid-December at Shrewsbury Town, since then they have picked up impressive victories against Lincoln City, Wycombe Wanderers, Tranmere Rovers, Doncaster Rovers and Bristol Rovers

Team News

In his pre-match press conference with bwfc.co.uk, Wanderers manager Keith Hill said that Jack Hobbs and Ali Crawford are progressing well with their recovery from lengthy injury lay-offs and new-signings Ryan Delaney and Jacob Mellis could come into contention.

Head to Head

Wanderers have faced Coventry City on 22 occasions, since the very first meeting between the two teams in the FA Cup in January 1950.

Bolton edged the tie on that particular Saturday afternoon with a 2-1 win at Highfield Road, but Coventry have the upper-hand overall with 8 wins and 10 draws comparing to four Wanderers victories.

The two teams fought out a goalless draw at the University of Bolton Stadium in August as Wanderers were forced to field a team largely made up of teenagers. The average age of the starting eleven was marginally over 19 years old and the team that day will forever be fondly remembered for a courageous display against a strong and far more experienced opponent.

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

Coventry come into the game as favourites at the time of writing according to Sky Bet, and are being priced at 2/5 to win the game.

Wanderers are regarded as underdogs and are priced at 13/2 to win the game, with a draw being priced at 10/3.

Man in the Middle

Saturday’s match will be officiated by Ross Joyce. He will be assisted by Paul Lister and Christopher Ward with Matthew Jones appointed as the fourth official.

Joyce has officiated 24 matches this season, with the most recent being Fleetwood Town’s 2-1 home victory against Doncaster Rovers last weekend.

So far this campaign he has handed out 109 yellow cards (4.54 per game) and four red cards (0.17 per game).

Currently in his twelfth season as a referee, Joyce has refereed the Whites three times, with the Wanderers registering two wins and a draw in those fixtures. The most recent Bolton game he officiated was Boxing Day’s goalless draw at Sunderland earlier in the season.

Key man for the Sky Blues – Maxime Biamou

Featuring in the goalless draw between the two sides in August, French forward Maxime Biamou registered his ninth goal of the season in Tuesday night’s entertaining FA Cup tie against Sky Bet Championship outfit Birmingham City.

The 29 year-old started his career in France and stayed there until signing for non-league Sutton United in 2016. Spending just a season there, he scored 13 goals in all competitions during the 2016/17 season before a move up the ladder to sign for Coventry City.

Not always a constant in the team since his arrival at the club over two and-a-half years ago, Biamou is playing good stuff under Mark Robins and will be hoping to retain a starting berth.

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Radio Nuts is now live.

Apologies for the static on the stream. I can't seem to get a clearer signal at the moment.

They were better than us but not by much considering they are chasing promotion - overall not a bad showing and a tad unlucky to not get a point.
I am wondering what the story is with the young lad Faal…….supposedly caused interest from multiple clubs but can't get 15 minutes?

We were much better in the second half, and after we levelled looked the more likely team to win it. O'Grady had a great chance to put us 2-1 up but put it over the bar.
Worthy of a point, but that's life.

That's Bolton Wanderers!

Played much better in the second half.  Was unlucky not to come away with a point.  Onto the next one.

Report: Coventry City vs. Bolton Wanderers

Bolton Wanderers suffered a narrow defeat right at the death as they narrowly lost 2-1 against Coventry City at St Andrew’s.

Dennis Politic’s second-half leveller looked to set to see both sides share the spoils after Amadou Bakayoko had given the hosts an early lead.

But Max Biamou’s injury-time winner ensured the maximum went to the Sky Blues.

Keith Hill named an unchanging starting XI from the side that beat Tranmere Rovers at the University of Bolton Stadium last weekend.

New signings Ryan Delaney and Jacob Mellis were named among the substitutes alongside a fit-again Jack Hobbs who had been sidelined with a back injury.

Playing at the home of Birmingham City, Coventry got off to a bright start when Bakayoko put the home side in front with a header at the far post which evaded the attentions of Remi Matthews in the Wanderers goal.

Matthews had to be on his guard to block a drive from Fankaty Dabo after the right-back tricked his way past Brandon Fleming to get sight on goal.

It was all Coventry during the early stages and Bakayoko had the ball in the back of the net once again but a flag ruled out the effort for offside.

Matthew was tested once again, this time from distance, as he tipped away a long-range effort from Liam Walsh at the expense of a corner.

But Wanderers weren’t deterred by their hosts’ early dominance, and Dennis Politic was unlucky not to get his shot on target when he lost his man before firing a low drive just wide of goal.

Immediately afterwards, Fleming delivered a dangerous-looking ball into the box for the attention of Daryl Murphy but Dom Hyam made a timely intervention to steer the ball to safety.

Matthews pulled off a solid stop to keep out a powerful shot from Callum O’Hare who tried to beat the Wanderers keeper from a tight angle inside the box.

Wanderers had a chance to go all-square five minutes after the half-time break when Politic curled an effort over the bar after good work from Chris O’Grady and Daryl Murphy set up the young winger.

Toto Nsiala got in the way of O’Hare’s effort after the Coventry man looked set to double his side’s lead.

Wanderers lost the service of Nisiala shortly afterwards who collided badly with O’Hare. Delaney came on to replace the defender to make his Wanderers debut.

Jason Lowe got in the way to superbly block a shot from inside the box off Walsh.

Wanderers were denied an equaliser with just over 20 minutes to go when Marko Marosi acrobatically tipped over Daryl Murphy’s bullet header after the Irishman latched onto O’Grady’s excellent pinpoint cross.

Fleming then burst into the box but his shot from 12 yards out when over Marosi’s crossbar.

Matthews pulled off another good save when he got his hands to Max Biamou’s header off Dabo’s centre.

But Wanderers got themselves level with just under 15 minutes remaining. Some great hold up play by O’Grady whose cross found Politic. He then volleyed home emphatically to claim his second strike in as many games.

The visitor's celebrations were almost got short afterwards when Biamou’s overhead kick caused some momentary consternation but the ball fell wide.

Wanderers were in the hunt for another goal and O’Grady, who was sent forward by Delaney, twisted and turned his way to create a chance but his shot went just over the bar.

But one minute into injury time, Biamou put the hosts back in front when he powered past Matthews from six yards out.

Hill made a double change with five minutes of added time remaining when Dodoo and Mellis came on for Luke Murphy and Ethan Hamilton.

Dodoo’s late free-kick cannoned off the wall to earn Wanderers a last gasp corner but the resulting effort came to nothing.

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Popped into chatbox during the game, but there was nobody in. So I popped out again.

boltonbonce wrote:Popped into chatbox during the game, but there was nobody in. So I popped out again.

Same

finlaymcdanger wrote:

boltonbonce wrote:Popped into chatbox during the game, but there was nobody in. So I popped out again.

Same

Me too.

Was disappointed that we conceded such a shit goal so early, pleased as we gradually worked our way back into it, chuffed to bits when we equalised, disappointed again when we gave away another avoidable goal at the death.

We're just not quite at the races yet.