Bolton kick off the weekend’s Championship action against promotion-chasing Middlesbrough.
Victory will lift Bolton up to tenth in the table, whilst Middlesbrough can go top until at least Saturday afternoon with a win.
Team News
Bolton have no fresh injury concerns to report after their 0-0 draw at Southampton, as only Chris Forino-Joseph remains ruled out due to a groin injury.
Middlesbrough have no fresh injury concerns to report after their 2-2 draw at home to Cardiff, with Rokas Puktas (hamstring), David Strelec (knock) and Alfie Jones (calf) still sidelined.
When is Kick-Off?
Bolton host Middlesbrough at Toughsheet Community Stadium on Friday 23 October at 8pm BST, live on Sky Sports Football in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Bolton are winless in their last ten league meetings against Middlesbrough (D1, L9)
- Middlesbrough are unbeaten in their last five visits to Bolton (W4, D1).
- Bolton have lost each of their last three league meetings against Middlesbrough by 2-0 results.
- Just six of Bolton’s 14 points this season have been gained at home (W2, L3).
- Eight of Middlesbrough’s 22 points this season have been gained away from home (W2, D2, L1).
Prediction
Sat in a solid mid-table position after a scrappy but well-earned draw at Southampton, Bolton can be pleased with how they performed against one of the strongest teams in the division but they will need to be clinical if want to keep pushing up the table themselves.
Middlesbrough meanwhile were wasteful in the first half against Cardiff who looked much more clinical and sharper on quick attacks when their defence was loose, but they dug in with two quick-fire second-half goals off the bench although I would start Sebastian Berhalter and Will Lankshear in this game.
Bolton though won’t make it easy if they can defend as well as they did at Southampton but I do feel that Boro are capable of winning this if can cut out the defensive sloppiness.
Prediction: Bolton 1-2 Middlesbrough