West Brom v Bolton preview

20 March 2009 10:46
West Brom host Bolton in what Baggies boss Tony Mowbray will be targeting as a must-win game.[LNB] The Baggies are becoming increasingly detached at the bottom and are now six points away from safety after failing to win in seven Premier League attempts.[LNB]If they are to stand any chance of avoiding the drop, Mowbray knows his side must post wins against the Trotters, as well as other home ties against Stoke, Sunderland and Wigan.[LNB]At least they go into this game on the back of a positive result - a goalless stalemate at West Ham on Monday - which was the Baggies' first clean sheet since the 3-0 home victory over Middlesbrough back on 17th January.[LNB]Mowbray's side will also be buoyed by the fact that Bolton are on a two-match losing run which has seen them dragged back into the relegation mix - just four points above the drop-zone.[LNB]Their 3-1 home loss to Fulham followed a 2-0 away defeat at Stoke and the Trotters have now failed to win away in the league in six attempts since their 4-1 victory against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light back on 29th November.[LNB]In an added twist, Bolton boss Gary Megson will be returning to his former club - whom he twice led to promotion from the Championship - for the first time since his departure four years ago.[LNB]Team newsFormer Bolton defender Abdoulaye Meite has been ruled out of facing his old team with a hamstring injury.[LNB]Fellow centre-back Leon Barnett is facing several weeks on the sidelines with a knee problem, and Baggies boss Mowbray is set to persevere with the new defensive pairing of Jonas Olsson and Shelton Martis.[LNB]He could be tempted to start with the same team which earned the creditable draw against the Hammers.[LNB]Bolton boss Megson will be missing Mark Davies, who will be out of action with a knee injury for between five and six weeks.[LNB]Davies suffered the injury during last Saturday's 3-1 defeat to Fulham and Megson does not expect the England Under-21 international to be ready again until the Premier League season is virtually over.[LNB]Megson's only other injury problem is defender Joey O'Brien, who continues to struggle with his own long-term knee complaint.[LNB]Possible starting XIsWest Brom: Carson, Zuiverloon, Olsson, Martis, Robinson, Morrison, Dorrans, Koren, Brunt, Greening, Fortune.[LNB]Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Cahill, Andrew O'Brien, Samuel, Taylor, McCann, Muamba, Gardner, Kevin Davies, Elmander.[LNB]

Source: SKY_Sports