Aston Villa v Bolton Wanderers: Can Coyle win and drag McLeish firmly into the relegation dogfight?

Bolton Wanderers start the day in the drop zone but their Premier League future remains in their own destiny. With two games in hand on their rivals, six points from six would see the Wanderers go level on points with Aston Villa and out of the drop zone. However, it's OK having the games in hand as long as you can do the business on the pitch.

This is the rearranged fixture from last month following Fabrice Muamba's cardiac arrest at Spurs in the FA Cup. Bolton, quite rightly, were not in the right frame of mind to get back to action as one of their friends and team-mates lay on a hospital bed fighting for his life. The brave midfielder is now out of hospital and back with his family and Bolton are ready to lock horns with Villa.

The Trotters earned a valuable point from Swansea City at the weekend. However, wins for QPR and Blackburn mean Bolton need to start winning games and winning them soon. That result ended a run of two straight defeats and give Owen Coyle hope of beating the drop. Unfortunately their record at Villa Park is hardly the best.

Aston Villa have lost only to Bolton twice in the Premier League and only three times in total since 1955. Bolton's last success came in the Carling Cup this season when they turned Villa over 2-0 in front of their own fans. Villa though gained revenge in the league when they beat Bolton at the Reebok 2-1.

However, you can count the number of Premier League games Aston Villa have won in 2012 on two fingers. After beating Chelsea so emphatically at Stamford Bridge on New Year's Eve everyone thought Villa would push on for a European place. Unfortunately it hasn't worked out that way and Villa fans have only watched their side take maximum points off Wolves and Fulham since. Three draws and three defeats in their last six have kept the pressure on Alex McLeish and relegation remains a distinct possibility.

The one thing you can guarantee from Villa is a tight defence. They have only lost four games this calendar year by more than one goal and Alex McLeish, who was a great defender in his days with Willie Miller at Aberdeen, knows all about organising a back four. It's his attacking intent which has been the problem for Villa fans. They have scored just 13 goals in their past 15 league games. That is not good enough, especially with a side that boasts the likes of Agbonlahor, Ireland and N'Zogbia - who hasn't sparkled at all since joining from Wigan.

This will be a tense affair. Neither side will want to lose but Bolton need to win to give their survival hopes a lift. Who will come out on top? Our pundits are going with the home side.

Aston Villa v Bolton Wanderers; Kick Off 7.45pm April 24 2012

Prediction Panel

Arsenal	Don McMahon	1	V	0
Aston Villa	Frank Pattison	2	V	1
Blackburn	Terry Kennedy	2	V	1
Bolton	Dave Blackburn	1	V	1
Chelsea	Joe Tyler	1	V	2
Everton	Chris Goodwin	2	V	0
Fulham	Neil Springate	1	V	0
Liverpool	Mark Williams	1	V	1
Man City	Callum Rothwell	2	V	1
Man Utd	Peter Lee	1	V	0
Newcastle	Michael Stout	1	V	0
Norwich City	Sue Read	1	V	1
QPR	Arjun Swaminathan	0	V	0
Stoke City	Philip Eccleston	1	V	0
Sunderland	Tony Ratton	2	V	1
Tottenham	Mike Richards	2	V	1
Swansea	Jim White	2	V	1
West Brom	Andy Wakeman	0	V	0
Wigan	Alan Moore	1	V	1
Wolves	Chris Cox	2	V	0
OUR EXPERTS
Writer	Colin Illingworth	1	V	2
Writer	Steve Coulter	1	V	1
Writer	Phil Bundy	1	V	0
Writer	Mitch Waddon	1	V	0
Writer	Matt Turner	TBA	V	TBA
Writer	Chris Pettitt	2	V	1
Writer	Hugh Larkin	2	V	1
Aston Villa fan	Lynette Ranson	TBA	V	TBA
Blackpool fan	Phil Trow	1	V	1
Boro fan	Sue Gardener	TBA	V	TBA
Fulham fan	Russell Goldman	2	V	1
Pompey fan	Dan Taylor	2	V	2
Pompey fan	Peter Rendle	1	V	1
West Ham fan	Matthew Beeby	0	V	1
West Ham fan	Nigel Telfer	2	V	1
Editor	Antony Melvin	1	V	1

Panel Verdict

Aston Villa are tipped to finally secure their Premier League survival.

Home: 19; Draw: 11; Away: 3. TBA 3

* Do we have it right or do you know better? We’d love to hear from you.