Bolton big four hope to see off Chelsea
Bolton play Chelsea a few days after meeting in the League Cup - where Chelsea won emphatically. Interesting point to note when teams play back-to-back the second game is often a draw because both teams will analyse the previous encounter to death - but given the reserve tournament feel that the League Cup has these days that may not hold true in this game.
Bolton is doing enough to avoid the relegation scrap, currently in 12th three points above third bottom Hull. But it still promises to long season. Bolton is not scoring freely and centre half Gary Cahill is the joint top scorer with three goals - which tells a story. In fact the four players with three goals, Cahill, Tamir Cohen, Kevin Davies and Matt Taylor show how talented the base of this team is - and why Bolton will probably expect to score from a set piece today. Cohen has been one of the finds of the season and Cahill now has a shot at the World Cup squad - but the better Bolton players will need to be on top of their games to get a result today.
Chelsea ended September and started October in inconsistent style; defeats to Wigan and Villa, coupled by scratchy performances in Europe were concerning - but this team keeps on winning the big tests including Liverpool in the middle of that period. The last three games, all at home, have seen Chelsea back to something like its best in winning 4-0 (Atletico Madrid), 5-0 (Blackburn) and 4-0 (Bolton). If Chelsea take any kind of psychological dominance from the League Cup game then the London team will head south with a win. Incidentally six different Chelsea players have scored in the last three games plus two own goals - suggesting that Chelsea offers a threat from all over the park.
Chelsea starts the game as odds-on favourites with the bookies.
Bolton Wanderers vs Chelsea; Kick Off 3:00pm 31 Oct 2009
Prediction Panel
Our panel contains both Squarefootball writers and readers, the writers are marked: (sqf).
Dave Blackburn : TBC
Chris Cox : 0 - 2
Graham Enwright : 1 - 3
Sue Gardener : 1 - 1
Chris Goodwin : 0 - 3
Paul Grech (sqf) : TBC
Colin Illingworth (sqf) : 2 - 1
Hugh Larkin (sqf) : 1 - 3
Peter Lee : 1 - 3
Don McMahon : 1 - 2
Antony Melvin (sqf) : 0 - 4
Paul O'Meara (sqf) : 2 - 2
Dave Nash : 1 - 3
Stephen Orford (sqf) : 1 - 3
Tony Ratton : 1 - 2
Peter Rendle : 0 - 3
Dan Taylor : 1 - 3
Andy Wakeman : 1 - 3
Isaac Williams : TBC
Mark Williams : 1 - 2
Panel Verdict
The panel is expecting a 3-1 Chelsea win.
Home: 1; Draw: 2; Away: 14; TBC: 3.
* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!
