Matt Mills injured

Breadman wrote:Very clever.

Ghost reference with a Burnley slant.

Like what you did there.

Apart from the fact that Casper is very much alive, the poor spelling and an uncalled for joke about a man who suffered a career ending injury by dirty Leeds.... yes very clever.   

Culcheth_White wrote:I wonder if Zat Knight will be man marking Jordan Rhodes?    

If that happens, what do they call a double hat trick for Rhodes?

If Knight does replace Mill - It depends on Whick Knight turns up...Some days (rarely) he can play well...I live in hope!

To be fair to Knight, since is mare against Boro he hasn't been that bad.

aaron_bwfc wrote:To be fair to Knight, since is mare against Boro he hasn't been that bad.

Agree but he is not quite as mobile as the 'hoof'

Wanderers will be forced into a defensive reshuffle in this weekend’s Lancashire derby after Matt Mills was ruled out of action.

It is understood the centre-half, who pulled up late in the impressive 2-0 victory over Watford, will miss Saturday’s Reebok clash with local rivals Blackburn Rovers.

It is feared Mills has suffered a minor knee problem, although the club are yet to comment officially on the exact nature or extent of the injury.

Mills has missed just one game since mid-September and had started to form a solid partnership with David Wheater after he returned to Dougie Freedman’s line-up a few weeks ago.

Club skipper Zat Knight could now be drafted into the back four having missed the last three games.

He has played alongside Wheater on five occasions earlier this season, but it proved to be a difficult spell in which Wanderers picked up just two points.

Mills’ absence will be regarded as a blow in the Wanderers camp, which had been understandably buoyant after one of the most encouraging performances in recent weeks against the Hornets.

Freedman said last weekend he was looking to bring in “one or two” defensive reinforcements for a back four that has been wafer thin for much of the season – and with youngster Cian Bolger also joining Mills on the sidelines this week, his options are now more limited than ever.

Darren Pratley remains a doubt for Saturday’s derby even though reports from the club insist his shoulder problem is not as serious as first feared.

Blackburn have also lost one of their key men with Tom Cairney not expected to face the Whites after picking up an ankle injury.

The ex-Hull playmaker limped out of last weekend’s draw against Reading but while a scan on Monday revealed no lasting damage, Rovers boss Gary Bowyer has said he will take no risks with the youngster’s fitness.

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karlypants wrote:He has played alongside Wheater on five occasions earlier this season, but it proved to be a difficult spell in which Wanderers picked up just two points.
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One of those 'occasions' was Blackburn away and what a fcuking disaster that turned out to be. I was optimistic after last Saturday's performance but not any more.

Team that day was -

Bogdan, Mears, Knight, Wheater, Baptiste, Medo, Spearing, Pratley, Chung, Ngog, Beckford.

Earlier in the season though it has been stated Wheater was not 100% fit so hopefully now he apparantly is back to his best a more solid partnership can be formed (for now anyway).

The stats prove that a Bolton team with Knight at centre-half is likely to concede far more than a team without him.

Freedman shouldn't even consider Knight, but he will, and we'll lose.

Culcheth_White wrote:

Natasha Whittam wrote:The stats prove that a Bolton team with Knight at centre-half is likely to concede far more than a team without him.

Freedman shouldn't even consider Knight, but he will, and we'll lose.

League Games Started by Knight 15 - goals Conceded 32 - Avg 2.13 - Clean Sheets 1
League Games not started by Knight 17 - goals conceded 17 - Avg 1.00 - Clean Sheets 5
League Games 32 - Goals Conceded 49 - Avg 1.53 - Clean Sheets 6

Please forward this ASAP to Dougie and hope he can understand the mathematics within.

This is a real blow, put a damper on my feelings towards this game. Knight will play i guess but i was really praying that he didn't come on last week when Mills was injured