Source: SKY_Sports
Bolton v Sunderland preview
// A bit of a hack but it works// The article snippet is wrapped onto a second line, even when #article-sub is emptyif( $("div#article-sub").children().length == 0 ) {$("div#article-sub").remove();} Gary Megson will be hoping his Bolton side can pick up where they left off by winning their opening home game against Sunderland.[LNB] The Trotters enjoyed a decent run at home towards the end of last season having lost only one of their last eight Premier League games at the Reebok Stadium.[LNB]With Sunderland having failed to score in their last three league trips to the Lancashire venue, Megson will be hopeful that run can continue.[LNB]Unbeaten in their last three pre-season friendlies, Bolton have enjoyed a good run-up to the start of the campaign.[LNB]And, having bolstered their squad significantly during the summer transfer window, they'll be confident of getting their season off to the best possible start.[LNB]Steve Bruce will be hoping new striker Darren Bent will be the answer to the Black Cats woeful goalscoring record last term.[LNB]Sunderland scored just 13 goals on their travels last season, with only Portsmouth and relegated Middlesbrough and West Brom scoring fewer.[LNB]Failing to score in six of their last seven Premier League away games, goals have been a serious issue for the visitors.[LNB]Yet to win an away game in 2009, they'll be hoping for a huge turn around on the road as they bid to better last season's 16th-place finish.[LNB]Team newsBolton should give debuts in defence to newcomers Sam Ricketts, Zat Knight and Paul Robinson.[LNB]Gavin McCann will face a late fitness test having struggled with a hamstring problem throughout pre-season.[LNB]Sunderland striker Bent will be hoping to make an immediate impact after signing from Spurs in the summer.[LNB]Paraguayan international Paula Da Silva will be competing for a starting berth after having his visa application granted.[LNB]Possible XlsBolton: Jaaskelainen, Ricketts, Cahill, Knight, Robinson, M Davies, Davis, Muamba, Taylor, Gardner, K Davies.[LNB]Sunderland: Fulop, Bardsley, Nosworthy, Ferdinand, Collins, Malbranque, Cana, Richardson, Reid, Bent, Jones.[LNB]
