Pre Match press conference

[Lighthouse]

Couldn't see this anywhere - Makes the point that all are available bar Ojo and Piazon who hopefully could rejoin the squad in December. He also said Fonte can play anywhere along the front line. A clue for tomorrow?


Slaviša Jokanović has pointed to Bolton Wanderers' upturn in form to demonstrate how tricky Saturday's fixture will be.

A run of eight consecutive defeats condemned the Trotters to 24th spot in the Sky Bet Championship, but a win and a draw in their previous two outings suggests a corner may have been turned.

"They started winning some points in the last two games," Jokanović stated. "They're a tall, strong, physical team who will probably try and catch us at some set-pieces or in some offensive transitions without so many players.

"They compete very well with many tall people. I expect they're not going to fight for possession of the ball, they're going to try and be organised in defence and try to make fast attacks.

"They're probably going to decide to press our build-up with many people, and we have prepared the team for this kind of situation.

"We know a tough game is in front of us but it's a great chance for us to be available and motivated and aggressive enough to win three points.

"Right now they are at the bottom of the table, but especially in the last two games they have shown the ambition and desire to change their situation, and we must be ready for the game."

After winning seven points inside a week prior to the last international break, Jokanović is keen to rediscover that sort of form before his squad meet up with their respective nations again in November.

"The team is motivated," he said. "We know we haven't shown enough, especially in front of our own supporters. We are going to arrive with the intention and desire to try and find our best performance in front of our supporters.

"We know we're not at our best level, we know we can do a better job, and a chance to do that is immediately in front of us."

[filham]

Jocanovic may be right in saying that Bolton have found some form in the last couple of games but the hard fact is they are the whipping boys in the championship, yes they will not be easy to beat , but who is .
Really if we cannot win against Boton at the Cottage then we will all have to ask the simple question , where on earth is the next win coming from.

[Twig]

Don't agree that Fonte can play anywhere across the front. He's no winger.

[aaronmcguigan]

The change in form is being unbeaten against what is now 16th and 17th. They had been beaten in the previous 8, scoring zero goals.

I'm all for being wary of potential threats and looking for any opposition strengths but to portray Bolton as any kind of form team is laughable. 4 points in 2 games is playing poor teams in consecutive games. They were scrappy poor quality games, and Bolton are a team that should be brushed aside, if not for ambitions and playing style then for investment into the playing squad. They were allowed to spend zero to improve a 2nd place league one team. We need to make it count. We're in the situation where we have probably spent more on Kamara/Fonte than Bolton have spent assembling their whole squad .
I know the scenario was similar v Burton but how many times can we slip up before getting serious about a promotion bid

[ScalleysDad]

Bolton should be brushed aside? Spirited side playing as a team up against a team still trying to work out who is who and what the heck the manager wants with no leader on the pitch and a lightweight up front. We could lose this one.

Obviously hope it won't happen but to dismiss Bolton is dangerous.