Bolton Wanderers V Hull City Match Preview

29 December 2009 09:55

Hull City boss Phil Brown will take his Hull City side to Bolton Wanderers with both desperately needing points to haul them away from the foot of the Premier League table.

Brown spent a successful period at Reebok Stadium under former boss Sam Allardyce before embarking on his own managerial career and he will go to the Lancashire club looking to further better his memories of the club.

November was a positive month for Brown's men as they briefly eased their relegation fears. They picked up eight points from a possible 12, but they have found December tougher going and are back in the thick of it.

Their bad run of form has coincided with the injury of influential midfielder Jimmy Bullard and he will remain on the sidelines with the knee injury he suffered early in the 3-0 defeat at Aston Villa on December 5.

Long-term casualty Ian Ashbee will be out until the end of the season after tearing his posterior cruciate ligament.

A win for Bolton is a must if they are to give themselves some breathing space going into the new year.

Gary Megson's home record is poor and a game against the Tigers should be winnable for his men.

The Trotters are still without the services of Mustapha Riga (hamstring), Gavin McCann (ankle), Sean Davis (cruciate ligament) and Joey O'Brien (knee) for the clash.

Megson will be happy that Croatia forward Ivan Klasnic has started scoring for the club following his year-long loan switch from French club Nantes at the end of August.

His recent form has kept the club record signing Johan Elmander out of the starting line-up - much to the Swede's frustration - as Megson opts for Klasnic and captain Kevin Davies.

Centre-half Gary Cahill will be hoping his own goalscoring form can continue, but he will know the importance of keeping a clean sheet against Hull on Tuesday evening.

Source: DSG