Are Bolton Wanderers destined for relegation back to League One?

Bolton Wanderers suffered a 4-0 defeat against Hull City on Friday evening, leaving them in the relegation zone and having played more games than the fellow struggling sides around them in the table.

The Trotters are newly-promoted from League One, but look set for a quick return to the third tier if they can’t turn their early season form around.

Bolton’s start to the new season is worrying

Phil Parkinson’s Bolton Wanderers side are currently rock bottom of the Championship table with just two points from a possible 15. A win would see them climb out of the relegation zone, but their lowly position might be a family sight over the course of the season. Only Norwich City (12) have conceded more goals than Bolton (10), while only Birmingham City (3) and Preston North End (2) have scored fewer (4).

Bolton’s Championship results in 2017/18

• 6/8/17: Bolton Wanderers 2-3 Leeds United
• 12/8/17: Millwall 1-1 Bolton Wanderers
• 15/8/17: Birmingham City 0-0 Bolton Wanderers
• 19/8/17: Bolton Wanderers 1-2 Derby County
• 25/8/17: Hull City 4-0 Bolton Wanderers

Parkinson was left to issue an apology to supporters after the thrashing by Hull City, saying: ““The only plus point I can possibly take was the supporters, who stuck behind us and I apologise to them because the performance was not good enough,” reports The Bolton News.

Wanderers have a difficult run of games to come to try and rectify their situation, with Middlesbrough, Sheffield United and Ipswich Town next up in the Championship. As a result, Bolton could find themselves out of sight at the foot of the table unless things change fast.

Not enough chances being created

Bolton have two good strikers in the Championship – Gary Madine and Adam Le Fondre – but the pair aren’t getting enough chances in games to be a threat. Madine and Le Fondre have scored three goals between them in the five games this season but average just two shots-per-game which highlights how they aren’t seeing enough of the ball in dangerous areas, It’s why Bolton’s scoring tally is slow low this season and is something Parkinson needs to fix to haul his side from the drop zone.

There’s still plenty of the season to go, but Bolton supporters will be worried by the club’s slow start to the new campaign. Just months previously, fans were celebrating promotion from League One that saw the Wanderers pick up 86 points from 46 goals, boasting the best defence (36 goals conceded) and the third-most amount of goals away from home (33). Bolton Wanderers are 11/10 to suffer relegation from the Championship this season.

Can Wanderers get themselves out of trouble?