#WATvBOL: Match preview

All the information you need ahead of Wanderers' opening match of the 2014/15 Championship season against Watford

Watford v Bolton Wanderers
Sky Bet Championship
Saturday 9 August 2014
Kick-Off 3pm



ALL-TIME RECORD

Wanderers travel to Vicarage Road this weekend as they kick-off their 2014/15 Championship campaign against Giuseppe Sannino’s Watford.

Dougie Freedman’s side did the double over the Hornets last season, a solitary Jermaine Beckford strike earning a 1-0 away win last November, before goals from Lukas Jutkiewicz and Joe Mason secured the points at Macron Stadium back in February.

The Trotters have enjoyed the best of this fixture since the turn of the millennium, losing just two of the past nine meetings between the two sides. SETTING THE SCENE


Watford wins
Draws
Bolton wins
League
11
4
10
FA Cup
1
0
1
League Cup
2
1
1
Total
14
5
12

Tickets will be available on the day of the game at Vicarage Road. For further details and ticket prices, please CLICK HERE

Mr Boyeson has taken charge of two Wanderers’ matches in the past, with his most recent Whites’ game coming almost a year ago to the day courtesy of last season’s 1-1 home draw with Reading.

In 32 games throughout the Football League last season, Mr Boyeson dished out 91 yellow and four red cards.

East Yorkshire-based referee Carl Boyeson will oversee Saturday afternoon’s Championship curtain-raiser against Watford.

MAN IN THE MIDDLE

In total Robinson spent two years at Macron Stadium, making 86 appearances, before departing for the Midlands in September 2012.

Leaving the Baggies in July 2009, Robinson reunited with former boss Gary Megson as he joined Wanderers on a season-long loan. The defender would make 11 appearances for the club before the deal was made permanent in January 2010.

The left back would go on to make 254 appearances for the club, scoring nine goals, during his seven years at Vicarage Road before leaving to join West Bromwich Albion in October 2003.

Current Birmingham City defender Paul Robinson started his career with Watford back in 1996, making his debut for the Hornets in a 1-1 draw against Luton Town in October 1996, aged 17.

Paul Robinson

A FOOT IN BOTH CAMPS

Chung-Yong Lee and Danns both missed further chances to extend the Whites lead, but with keeper Andy Lonergan looking in impressive form at the other end, Dougie Freedman’s side held on to claim a valuable three points.

A Manuel Almunia error gifted Bolton the lead as the former Arsenal man failed to gather a low Neil Danns’ cross, giving Beckford the perfect opportunity to notch his fifth goal from his last six games.

The last time Wanderers made the trip to Vicarage Road, a first half Jermaine Beckford strike wrapped up maximum points as the Trotters extended their recent unbeaten run to eight matches.

23/11/2013: Watford 0-1 Bolton Wanderers (Beckford, 26)

LAST TIME WE WERE HERE

However, an ankle saw Vydra withdrawn at half-time during the final against Crystal Palace, as Watford fell to a disappointing 1-0 defeat.

The forward scored 24 goals for the Hornets back in 2012/13, including a superb brace in the Championship play-off semi-final against Leicester City.

Another signing from Udinese, the Czech Republic international joined the Italian club in 2010, having previously shone as a teenager at both Vysocina Jihlava and Banik Ostrava.

Having shone during his last loan spell with Watford two year ago, Matej Vydra will be hoping to rediscover his best form following his return to Vicarage Road, having endured mixed fortunes during his time in the Premier League with West Bromwich Albion.

Matej Vydra

ONE TO WATCH

WATFORD: Gomes; Angella, Ekstrand, Tamas (Hoban 75); Anya (Dyer 60), Andrews, McGugan (Battocchio 60), Abdi (Fabbrini 75), Pudil (Doyley 82); Deeney (Ranegie 67), Vydra (Ighalo 60)

With Wanderers loanee Keith Andrews starting in midfield, the Hornets twice came from behind, courtesy of goals from Lewis McGugan and substitute Mathias Ranegie to secure a credible draw against the Serie A side.

In their last pre-season friendly before the start of the 2014/15 Championship season, Watford drew an 2-2 in an entertaining clash at Vicarage Road against sister club Udinese.

LAST TIME OUT

Now at the start of his first full season in England, the Italian has overseen a busy transfer window and will be confident that his numerous new signings will provide the difference as Watford look to end an eight-year absence from the Premier League.

Sannino took charge at Watford in December 2013, with his arrival at Vicarage Road prompting an ultimately unsuccessful late push for the Play-Offs.

Having won the Serie D, Serie C2, and Serie C1 during his time in Italy, while also enjoying stints in charge of top flight clubs Chievo, Palermo and Siena, Sannino will be hoping to add a promotion to the Premier League onto his already impressive CV come the end of the season.

Although unproven in English football, Giuseppe Sannino's knack of winning promotion with lower-league clubs in Italy helped convince Watford that the 57-year-old was the right man to replace Gianfranco Zola late last year.

Giuseppe Sannino

WHO’S IN THE HOTSEAT?
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