All you need to know ahead of Tuesday night's visit of Leicester City to the Reebok
Bolton Wanderers v Leicester Citynpower Championship
Tuesday 6 November, 2012
Kick-Off 8pm
Setting The Scene
A second-half comeback against Cardiff City at the weekend ensured new manager Dougie Freedman made a winning start to life at Bolton Wanderers, but the Scot has no time to rest on his laurels as the Whites face another tricky fixture when they welcome fourth-placed Leicester City to the Reebok on Tuesday evening.
Two goals in quick succession from substitutes Martin Petrov and David Ngog ensured Freedman, accompanied by newly appointed assistant Lennie Lawrence, picked up all three points in his first game at the helm – a feat only repeated by Colin Todd and Bruce Rioch who both previously secured promotion to the top flight.
Tomorrow’s visitors Leicester, who also harbor expectations of a return to the big time, have made a superb start to Nigel Pearson’s second tenure in charge of the Midlands club.
But it was a different story 12 months ago as a poor start to the season resulted in former England boss Sven-Göran Eriksson leaving the club by mutual consent, allowing Pearson to begin his second spell with Foxes, who rallied to end the season only nine points of the play-offs.
The Blues have won six of their opening seven home ties this season, and currently sit fourth in the table, but their poor away form has dropped them out of the automatic promotion places.
The Foxes travel to the North West on the back of two defeats inside a week, first at home to Crystal Palace then away against Gianfranco Zola’s Watford, as Pearson’s side continue to struggle on the road securing just two wins away from the King Power Stadium.
Leicester’s recent poor form may worry some fans, but if striking duo David Nugent and Jamie Vardy keep up their impressive run after scoring nine goals between them so far, many supporters still believe this will be the year that they can finally end their five year wait for Premier League football.
One To Watch - David Nugent
Nugent signed for Leicester City in July 2011 and has enjoyed a prosperous spell at the Midland’s club scoring 21 goals in 51 appearances for the Foxes.
The former England international has made sterling start to the new campaign, scoring six goals in 14 outings, including his first career hat-trick in Leicester’s 3-1 win over Hull City in September.
The former Preston North End and Portsmouth man is currently the club’s top goalscorer and he once again found the back of the net in the Foxes’ last outing against Watford.
Team News
Saturday’s match-winner David Ngog will miss the visit of Leicester City after he received two bookings late-on in Wanderers’ 2-1 victory over Cardiff City.
Dougie Freedman, however, has no fresh injury concerns with long-term absentees Stuart Holden, David Wheater, Josh Vela and Andy Lonergan all still sidelined.
Zak Whitbread will be missing for the visitors after seeing red at the weekend against Watford.
All-Time Record
Bolton Wins | Draws | Leicester Wins | |
League | 23
| 18
| 19
|
League Cup | 2
| 2
| 1
|
FA Cup | 1
| 0
| 0
|
Total | 26
| 20
| 20
|
Man In The Middle - Martin Atkinson
West Yorkshire-based Martin Atkinson will take charge of Saturday’s game. He has so far shown a League high 47 yellow cards, and one red card, in 12 games this season.
The experienced Premier League referee showed eight yellow cards in his second Champions League game this season between Lille and Bayern Munich, and showed his only red card of the year during Sunderland’s 1-1 draw with Newcastle dismissing Cheick Tiote for his challenge on Scotland striker Steven Fletcher.
Fan Information
Stuart Holden will be a special guest in the Premier Suite’s FanZone from 7pm. Valid home match ticket required for entry.