Bolton Wanderers Manager, Phil Parkinson may well have to change a winning formation for the difficult looking visit of Norwich City on Saturday.
Bolton gave themselves a big lift in mid-week when they went to St. Andrews and beat play-off chasing Birmingham City 1-0.
Parkinson went with a tight back five formation to keep the blues out and it worked a treat as Callum Connolly took the chance to score the game’s only goal.
Connolly was lucky to still be on the pitch though after being shown only one yellow card for two late second-half challenges in as many minutes. Moments later he headed home the winner, much to the annoyance of the home crowd. I think I’d be with them on that.
Influential senior players, Marc Wilson and ex-Canary Gary O’Neil are both big doubts with O’Neil coming off at half-time with a calf injury.
If both are ruled out, then Parkinson is going to have to change a winning team. Jonathan Grounds (another ex-Canary) looks set to return to the defence, having been ineligible against his parent club, at left back and means a likely switch back to a four-man defence.
If O’Neil misses out, and calf injuries aren’t that quick to repair, then Luke Murphy could come in for his first start in five games to replace him.
On-loan Yanic Wildschut is still out with an ankle issue and would’ve been ineligible anyway but expect to see Remi Matthews in goal for the Trotters after he eventually completed a permanent transfer in January.
This is a big game for both sides with extra pressure now on Norwich after a heavy mid-week defeat to Preston at Deepdale.
OTBC