Bolton Wanderers vs Sunderland - Match Preview
Two under pressure managers Owen Coyle and Steve Bruce lock horns at the Reebok today hoping to turn their respective club's fortunes around with a win.
They may have given Arsenal a lot to think about in their game last Sunday, only losing it late at the Emirates, but good performances and plenty of effort alone isn't going to keep Steve Bruce in a job at Sunderland and the longer they go without winning games, the more pressure will be on owner Ellis Short to get rid. They are searching for their first away win of the season today at Bolton, another struggling side who are on the same points as The Wearsiders. Despite winning away at Wigan last week, Bolton are still in the bottom three of the table and with -10 goals against, actually have the worst goal difference in the league. They also have lost all their home games this season and the habit of dredding playing in front of a contentious Reebok crowd is something you want to get rid of as soon as possible. Owen Coyle, usually so astute in picking loan signings of players who have something to prove and who help the quality of his experienced and battling players such as Daniel Sturridge and Jack Wilshire in the past, must be getting frustrated by the ineffectiveness of this year's class of Gael Kakuta and Tuncay. One problem Sunderland have had is scoring goals and utilising Stephane Sessegnon up front just isn't working, though he shouldn't have to play their today with on loan striker Nicklas Bendtner available to start having been ineligible against his parent club Arsenal last time out. South Korean striker Ji Dong Won could also play up front today having been knackered from international duty last week. Both managers are struggling and it's going to be fascinating to see which manager can get their side to perform today.