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............................................... 
Sunderland................................... vs ...................... Swansea City
The Reebok Stadium
Bolton
Sat 28-01-12 15:00 PM KO
For links to watch the game online, click HERE
Welcome one and all to the match thread for the game between Bolton and Swansea City. These teams have already familiarised themselves with each other this season, with the Swans running out 3-1 winners at their encounter in South Wales earlier in the season. Bright pre-season hopes of a promising campaign for Bolton have given way to a sense that, if they can finish the season comfortably mid-table, their season will have finished better than many would have expected had they been asked at the half way point of the season. Having said that, poor early season form does seem to have stabilised and the Trotters will no doubt be looking to put a run of form together, which ideally will encapsulate both league and cup games. Swansea's recent purple patch came to an end last weekend at a resurgent Sunderland, guided by Martin O'Neill, who defeated the Swans 2-0 with wonder goals from Stephane Sessegnon and Craig Gardner.
As there is surely time for Bolton to pull themselves clear of danger in the league, an extended FA Cup run will surely by a pleasant distraction for Bolton fans who have perhaps become unfamiliar with languishing at the foot of the table, whereas for the Swans fans, each added game in the fixture schedule is regarded dubiously, as fans worry that an extended cup run will overstretch a small inexperienced squad. Also, two players likely to be included in Bolton's squad are Sam Ricketts and Darren Pratley, both formerly of Swansea City and both still thought of fondly. Ricketts only spent two seasons here but will always be fondly remembered, whereas Pratters stayed longer and became a fan's favourite, before dividing opinion in the aftermath of his free transfer to the north-west.
The Match;
Bolton come into this game in looking like they may soon hit form. A 3-1 win over Liverpool (which won't draw superlatives from me - I watched the game) is to be applauded, as is an away win over their neighbours Everton, but they need to be consistent if they are to pull away from the relegation spots. Looking back over Bolton's recent form, it really is patchy, and I don't see too much to draw confidence from, other than a big win over an over-rated Liverpool side. Bolton really need to improve if they are serious about staying in the Premier League, but for this weekend the focus is on the cup, after they triumphed over Macclesfield 2-0 at the Reebok in a replay, after a 2-2 draw at Macclesfield.
Swansea, as mentioned, went down 2-0 at the Stadium of Light, which put an end to a decent unbeaten run of 5 games in all competitions. The Swans will be grateful for another chance to practice their "away game", as it's been lacking at times, and will likely go with a strong starting line-up. The Swans have a wealth of options to choose from in the more attacking positions, but the defensive side of things is likely to be mostly first choice, given the lack of options at Brendan's disposal. A first competitive appearance for Darnel Situ mustn't be ruled out, while Alan Tate is included in the travelling party as he continues his rehabilitation from a broken leg. After captaining the team for the opening game against Man City, Tate must have feared he would miss the season after injuring himself in a "freak golf buggy accident" and will be chomping at the bit to be involved come 3pm.
Prior Form; (most recent at top)
Bolton 3 - 1 Liverpool Premier League
Bolton 2 - 0 Macclesfield FA Cup
Man Utd 3 - 0 Bolton Premier League
Macclesfield 2 - 2 Bolton FA Cup
Everton 1 - 2 Bolton Premier League
Sunderland 2 - 0 Swansea City Premier League
Swansea City 3 -2 Arsenal Premier League
Barnsley 2 - 4 Swansea City FA Cup
Aston Villa 0 - 2 Swansea City Premier League
Swansea City 1 -1 Tottenham Premier League
Team News
Bolton are missing first choice keeper Jaaskelainen and perennially present/injured left back Ricardo Gardner with thigh injuries, while Mears and Lee are both out with broken legs. Stuart Holden and and Steve Davis miss out with knee injuries, while Alonso misses out with an ankle problem.
Swansea once again, have no real injury worries to write home about. Alan Tate is considered fit enough to travel with the squad, while Ferrie Bodde continues his progress with 60 minutes for the reserves the other night.
Trivia; - "Courtesy" of Opta
- Bolton has conceded just one goal in its last six home FA Cup ties, Jermain Defoe was the scorer, netting in a 1-1 draw for Tottenham in 2010's fourth round.
- The Trotter's last home defeat in the competition was in 2008's third round when they were eliminated by Sheffield United.
- Last season's semifinalist has won the competition four times, most recently in 1958.
- The two sides have met in the Premier League this season at the Liberty Stadium with Swansea picking up a 3-1 win thanks to goals from Joe Allen (pictured right), Scott Sinclair and Danny Graham.
- Bolton beat Swansea in a 1926 FA Cup semifinal, going on to beat Manchester City in the final.
- The Swans were the first Welsh club to play in the FA Cup all the way back in the 1913/14 season.
- Swansea is hoping to reach the fifth round for the first time since 2009, when as a Championship side the team was knocked out by Fulham after a replay.
- Brendan Rodgers side has only picked up two away wins this season, away to Aston Villa in the league and a third round FA Cup tie at Barnsley played five days later.
- Bolton are unbeaten in eight meetings against Swansea on home soil spanning over 30 years.
- Bolton have conceded just one goal at the Reebok Stadium in their last six FA Cup ties.
- Swansea have been eliminated at the fourth round stage on seven of the 11 occasions that they have made it this far.
Bolton
Bogdan
Steinsson
Wheater
Knight
Ricketts
Reo-Coker
Pratley
M. Davies
Petrov
Eagles
Klasnic
Swansea
Vorm
Rangel
Taylor
Williams
Monk
Britton
Orlandi
McEachran
Routledge
Dyer
Graham
Analysis;
It's that time of the week again. Given that both teams are going to surely rotate slightly, at least, it's very difficult to predict any individual match-ups that may take place, hence me foregoing my normal "key battles" section. This game is likely going to be a direct battle of the managers playing styles, given that both teams have ingrained on them their manager's footballing philosophies, we'll probably see a winner on Saturday and I'm not expecting a replay. Bolton do like to play football, but Coyle prefers it to be more direct when compared to Rodgers' possibly procrastinatory style. Coyle has confirmed that new signing Tim Ream will not feature, so the new signing will have 90 minutes more to assess his new team-mates, and Bolton fans will be hoping he isn't regretting his decision to sign come 5pm.
Swansea will, as usual look to retain possession and it'll probably be the trio of Reo-Coker, Pratley and Davies who have the job of stopping them, and if the fixture at the Liberty was anything to go by the Swans may enjoy their afternoon. Bolton's players in that game received some of, and THE lowest ratings of the season on the EA Player Performance Index, and Coyle will be keen to make sure this isn't repeated on front of a home crowd. I think for Bolton to be successful in this game Coyle will have to spring a tactical surprise, as with the confidence the Swans have in their game, trying to beat them at passing and moving is unlikely to work - especially if Arsenal couldn't do it. Much better for Bolton to try and catch us off guard, and expose the inherent weakness in a patient passing game - get in the players faces and stop them from retaining possession at the back and you'll likely get a result.
O'Neill received plaudits which perhaps were over-done, given that his team had 30% of possession, and two wonder-goals to thank for triumphing 2-0, but the logic was sound. Contain the Swans, and allow them to play football where they can't hurt you. Success has come for the Swans when teams have tried to play them at their own game, and despite sterling rearguard actions they still look a little suspect when dealing with a continued bombardment, so Coyle would do well to alter his playing style and personnel if he wants a positive result from the match. The Swans, however, won't lose too much heart from that defeat and will still be full of confidence after a 5hr bus ride to the North West.
One last mention for Alan Tate, because I love him, and he's looking likely to be on the bench come 3pm. Hopefully he'll get a few minutes as there is no current player at the club who loves SCFC more than that man. While the Swans fans dream of a team of Alan Tate's, Bolton fans will be looking to the likes of David N'Gog to provide inspiration...
I don't envy them.
Iechyd Da.
Scott
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