Stoke v Bolton

Last updated : 14 January 2011 By BBC Sport

Former Bolton star Eidur Gudjohnsen is likely to miss out on a possible first start for Stoke due to a neck injury.Tuncay Sanli is hoping to retain his place after scoring in the FA Cup draw with Cardiff but Mamady Sidibe remains sidelined with an Achilles injury.

Bolton striker Ivan Klasnic, who has a groin problem, is the latest addition to their already-long injury list.

But there is a chance Gretar Steinsson and Stuart Holden could return from knee and thigh injuries respectively.

Stoke

Doubtful: Gudjohnsen (neck) Injured: Sidibe (Achilles)

Bolton

Doubtful: Steinsson (knee), Holden (thigh)

Injured/unavailable: Chung-Yong Lee (international duty), S Davis & J O'Brien (both knee), Gardner (thigh), Samuel (calf)

MATCH PREVIEW

In the past, this would not have been a game for the purists but with Bolton playing some attractive football under Owen Coyle and Stoke showing signs of flair this season, it is maybe time to reassess such stereotypes.

We owe [Bolton] one because they have had a bit of good fortune against us and it's time that changed

Stoke manager Tony Pulis

In addition, the last three meetings between the sides have featured plenty of thrills and spills with crucial last-gasp goals in each. Bolton substitute Ivan Klasnic provided the drama when the teams met in October - he came on in the 77th minute, scored an injury-time winner and then found time to collect two bookings and get himself sent off.

Bolton are in a lofty seventh place yet have reason to be disappointed with recent form, having taken just one point from the last nine. Owen Coyle will be looking to arrest an alarming away slump, which has seen the Trotters lose their last four matches away from the Reebok Stadium.

Meanwhile, it is recent home form that is a cause for concern for Stoke. The Britannia Stadium was the proverbial fortress last season but home defeats to the likes of Blackpool and Fulham have diminished that reputation. With the Potters just seven points clear of bottom-placed West Ham, it is a situation Pulis will be looking to rectify against Bolton.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Bolton are looking for a third consecutive win over Stoke, having beaten them 2-1 on the previous two occasions, with the winner coming in the last two minutes each time.

• Bolton's Matthew Taylor has scored three times in the last three meetings with Stoke. He scored twice in the last five minutes in this fixture last season and also converted an 89th-minute penalty to earn Bolton a 1-1 draw at the Reebok Stadium in September 2009.

Have your say on Saturday's match

Stoke

• Stoke have won just one of their last four home matches.

• The Potters have not lost any of the seven matches in which they have scored first in this season's Premier League (W6 D1).

• Stoke have scored just five first-half goals this season, compared to 21 after the break.

• City are the only club in the Premier League not to have scored in the first 15 minutes this season.

Bolton

• Bolton have lost their last four away matches.

• The Trotters have taken just one point from the last nine available.

• Bolton have kept just two clean sheets in this season's Premier League - both came at the Reebok Stadium.

• Wanderers have conceded in each of their last 18 Premier League away matches. Their last away clean sheet came in a 0-0 draw at Wigan last February.

LEADING GOALSCORERS

Stoke City

Jones: 7 goals (5 league); Huth: 4 goals (4 league); Walters: 4 goals (3 league)

Bolton

Elmander: 10 goals (9 league); K Davies: 8 goals (7 league)

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Michael Oliver

Assistant referees: Mick McDonough & David Richardson

Fourth official: Peter Walton

LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS

Stoke (L1-2 v Man Utd, a): Begovic, Wilkinson, Huth, Shawcross, Collins, Sanli, Wilson, Whitehead, Delap (Walters 69), Etherington (Pennant 68), Jones (Fuller 75). Subs Not Used: Sorensen, Higginbotham, Pugh, Whelan.

Bolton (D1-1 v Wigan, h): Jaaskelainen, Ricketts, Knight, Cahill, Robinson, Moreno (Petrov 83), Muamba, Mark Davies, Taylor (Blake 90), Kevin Davies, Elmander. Subs Not Used: Bogdan, Alonso.

Source: BBC Sport

Source: BBC Sport