Preview: Bolton v Swans

10th November
First team

Swansea City go in search of a rare away victory over Bolton Wanderers when they return to Championship action at the University of Bolton Stadium this afternoon (3pm).

The Swans first went to Bolton for an FA Cup tie in 1926 and were beaten 3-0.

In 17 visits since then, they have come back victorious just once, and that was back in 1980.

Graham Potter’s side will attempt to deliver away win No. 2 at Bolton today against hosts who are struggling for form.

Phil Parkinson’s team have taken only six of the last 36 points available to them in the Championship.

They have won just once since August, against Derby County on September 29, and have scored only once in their last six games.

Bolton have lost their last three home games – against Hull, Nottingham Forest and Blackburn – without so much as scoring a goal.

Never before in their history have they been beaten in four straight fixtures on their own patch without finding the target.

Parkinson will feel something has to change soon, and will hope his team’s moment comes against a Swans side who have not triumphed in six away matches.

Potter’s men ought to have won on the road last weekend, when they dominated at Rotherham but somehow ended up with nothing.

The feeling of frustration in the away dressing room at the New York Stadium last Saturday evening ought to drive the Swans on today.

 

TEAM NEWS

Bolton are hoping to welcome back influential wideman Sammy Ameobi, who has been sidelined for eight weeks with an ankle ligament problem.

There are doubts over experienced midfielders Gary O’Neil and Stephen Ireland.

Wilfried Bony could play some part for the Swans after nine months out while Jefferson Montero is also hoping to feature. Tom Carroll and George Byers are back in contention, giving the visitors plenty of options.

 

PRE-MATCH VIEWS

Bolton skipper David Wheater: “We have to keep working hard and hope things will turn for us. We have good lads here. We are not moaning or complaining. We all stick together and we’ll go again.”

Jay Fulton: “If we keep performing like we did last weekend, we will have a good chance of taking the points.”

Mike van der Hoorn: “We have to take our performance and emotions from Rotherham with us into the Bolton game and get a good result.”

 

REMEMBER THE LAST TIME?

The Swans last faced Bolton in a Premier League fixture in April 2012.

Scott Sinclair’s long-range goal put Brendan Rodgers’s team ahead at what was then the Reebok Stadium, but Chris Eagles levelled for Wanderers.

The Swans were the better side and had chances to win it, most notably when Danny Graham struck the bar.

The draw was a better result for the visitors, though, with Owen Coyle’s Bolton heading for relegation.

 

PRIME NUMBERS

11 – Bolton have scored 11 goals in the Championship this season, the lowest tally in the division.

13 – The Swans have conceded only 13 times in the second tier this term, a record which is bettered by just one side (Middlesbrough) in the division.