Struggling Bolton are at the bottom of the Championship and they are finding life tough back in the second tier of English football. They are yet to win a game and that run looks set to continue when Middlesbrough visit for a clash on Saturday afternoon.
Middlesbrough are looking to bounce straight back into the Premier League and currently find themselves 9th in the league after an indifferent start. September is an important month for them as they look to find some consistency and climb the table in search of a quick return to the Premier League. Both clubs need to pick up points for very different reasons and we are going to see who wants it more when the pair meet on Saturday.
Bolton Form
Life back in the Championship has been tough for Bolton, they have picked up two draws but lost their other three games and are still yet to win. They are one of many clubs who are in with a chance of relegation, but other have started better and they need to play catch up this month.
Goal scoring has been a problem for them and since the opening day they have scored just twice in four games, something that must change. The experienced pair of Adam La Fondre and Gary Madine are capable of finding the net, but they need support and cannot score without the ball.
There are a lot of things that need to change in Bolton are to get out of the problem they are in right now, goal scoring is just one problem they have. Overall, they need to show a lot more fight and they need to work harder to pick up points, this is a very tough game but they have to start showing something soon.
Middlesbrough Form
We have certainly seen signs from Middlesbrough that they are capable of bouncing back to the top flight at the first time of asking, but we haven’t seen enough of that. They have been brilliant, but only in parts and this month has to be about becoming a more consistent outfit and putting together a string of good results.
Like Bolton, Middlesbrough also need to find a way to score more goals, but at least they have a ton of attacking options they can choose from. They have only scored four goals in five game, but on the other hand they have conceded just three goals giving them a positive goal difference. Turning draws like the one they had last time out against Preston, into wins is what Middlesbrough need to do and they have a good opportunity to do that here against a team who are struggling at the foot of the table.
Team News
Bolton need to create more chances for their strikers so they need to be looking for big games here from players like Will Buckley, Darren Pratley and Jem Karacan. They have to give the front men better service and that needs to come soon so they can start and pick up points.
It seems remarkable that Middlesbrough have only scored four goals with the attacking talent they have, but right now they can’t quite find the right formula to go with. They have an abundance of attacking talent and after sitting on the bench for the last game, maybe Ashley Fletcher will be given a chance to prove he is the one that can score them enough goals to move up the table.
Top Betting Tips
Both clubs are coming into this game looking for a win, but both for very different reasons. If Bolton are to have any chance of recording a win they need to create more opportunities for their front men and generally play a lot better than what they have been doing.
I don’t think they will do that and I think Middlesbrough will win the game so I am backing them to win at 21/20 which is the price available with Ladbrokes, Coral and Stan James. I think Middlesbrough are by far the better team, they have the ability in their ranks and just need to find a way to click, as soon as they do that we will see them climb the table.
I am backing Middlesbrough to win here before stringing together a few good results in their assault for the Premier League. The 21/20 on offer is a very good price and I strongly fancy them to come away from Bolton with all three points.