Preview: Bolton v DerbySETTING THE SCENE Following Wednesday’s resolute display against Premier League leaders Chelsea, Wanderers head into Saturday’s game with Derby County keen secure back-to-back home victories having beaten Rotherham United the last time out at BL6.
However, in the form of Steve McClaren’s Rams, they face one of the toughest teams in the Championship and a side that has just lost just once so far this season.
While it is Derby who hold the superior record in this fixture, it Bolton who have had the best of recent meetings having not lost against their East Midlands opponents since 2002.
ALL-TIME RECORD | Bolton wins | Draws | Derby wins |
League | 40 | 21 | 57 |
League Cup | 2 | 0 | 0 |
FA Cup | 3 | 0 | 2 |
Total | 45 | 21 | 59 |
TEAM NEWSKevin McNaughton could make his first appearance since last month’s clash with Middlesbrough, having been an unused substitute in Wanderers’ last two matches.
Elsewhere, Chris Herd could make his maiden Whites’ league appearance having made his Bolton debut in the midweek clash with Chelsea, while Max Clayton could also come into contention to make his first appearance for the club.
Meanwhile, Adam Bogdan, Liam Trotter and David Wheater remain long-term absentees for Bolton, while Marc Tierney and Sanmi Odelusi will also miss out.
LAST TIME OUT23/09/2014: Derby County 2-0 Reading (Russell 67, Pearce OG 82)
Goals from Johnny Russell and an Alex Pearce own goal ensured Derby clinched a rather straight-forward victory over Reading as they secured their path to the Capital One Cup fourth round.
After a goalless first half, striker Russell fired the Rams in front midway through the second half, running onto Chris Martin’s flick-on and beating two defenders before finding the back of the net with a low drive.
Martin turned provider again late on as Derby wrapped up the win, the forward whipping a cross into the six-yard box which was deflected into his own goal by Pearce.
Derby:Roos, Forsyth, Keogh, Shotton, Christie, Hughes (Martin 64), Bryson (Eustace 83), Mascarell, Ibe, Best (Dawkins 76), Russell.
ONE TO WATCHWith five goals to his name already this season, Derby County forward Jamie Ward has started the campaign in fine form.
An Aston Villa youth team graduate, the Northern Ireland international joined Torquay United in July 2006, however, a change of manager saw him depart for Chesterfield just six months later.
Ward signed for Sheffield United in January 2009, before joining Derby, initially on loan, little over two years later.
After scoring five goals in 13 appearances during what was a successful loan spell at the iPro Stadium, Ward made the move permanent in May 2011, and has been a consistent supplier of goals for the Rams ever since.
LAST TIME THEY WERE HERE17/09/2013: Bolton Wanderers 2-2 Derby County (Bapitste 5, Eagles 41, Russell 7, 18.)
Wanderers came from behind to draw against Derby at BL6 as goals from Alex Baptiste and Chris Eagles cancelled out as Johnny Russell brace.
Baptiste actually fired the Whites in front after just five minutes, the defender shooting home from the edge of the area.
But two simple finishes from Russell turned the game on its head inside the opening quarter, before Eagles’ 25-yard strike levelled the scores once again just before the break, ensuring Bolton went away with a share of the points.
MAN IN THE MIDDLEEast Yorkshire-based referee Mark Brown takes charge of Wanderers’ home clash with Derby County this week as Dougie Freedman’s side return to Championship following their midweek trip to Stamford Bridge.
Mr Brown has taken charge of two Whites’ fixtures in the past, while Saturday’s match will mark his second at Macron Stadium, having overseen Bolton’s 3-2 victory over Bristol City in October 2012 – a game in which club captain Jay Spearing scored his first goal for the club.
Simon Barrow and Darren Strain will run the line, while Mark Astley is the fourth official.
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