Premier League preview: Bolton v Blackpool

Bolton Wanderers can make further in-roads into the top four with a solid showing against Championship promotions Blackpool on Saturday.

Owen Coyle’s side have been one of the surprises of the season, and can count a 4-2 defeat of Tottenham and a 2-2 draw with Manchester United among their achievements so far.

Most recently, Bolton thrashed Newcastle United 5-1 with ace striker Johan Elmander netting a brace and Kevin Davies adding a pair of penalty goals.

That win left Bolton fifth on the table with 22 points, ahead of Tottenham on goal difference and three points behind Manchester City in fourth.

Elmander has got his name on the scoresheet eight times this season, second only to Manchester City’s Carlos Tevez, and team-mate Sam Ricketts said the Sweden international is one the hottest strikers in the league.

“Johan’s playing incredibly well at the minute and is one of the most in-form players in the Premier League,” Ricketts told the Bolton News.

“He’s a threat every time he gets the ball and you can see defences worrying about him.”

“He’s strong, quick, direct – they’re horrible qualities to try and defend against. When he gets the ball defences are dropping off him because they’re scared of his pace and power.”

Elmander will likely enjoy the challenge posed by Blackpool, who have gained more than a few partisan supporters this season with their all-out attack style of football.

But their insistence on playing for goals also leaves them weakened in defence and the Tangerines have conceded a league-worst 27 goals this term.

Blackpool rose to 12th on the table with a 2-1 defeat of Wolverhampton last time out, with Marlon Harewood netting his fifth goal of the season.

Harewood and the rest of Ian Holloway’s men will fancy their chances of getting on the scoresheet at Bolton, who have conceded a leaky 20 goals and have not kept a clean sheet in the top-flight since their season opener against Fulham.

Given both teams’ attacking proclivities and defensive inadequacies, it seems reasonable to expect goals at Reebok Stadium on Saturday.

But perhaps Blackpool stopper Richard Kingson will have something to say about that.

The Ghana international started against Wolves last week in place of first-choice goalkeeper Matthew Gilks, who will be sidelined for two months with a knee injury.

Kingson took the Tangerines within four minutes of their first clean sheet of the season, and said he expects to better the effort as soon as he settles into his new role.

“I haven’t seen (Blackpool’s) defence play much but I’m sure we will gain a better understanding training every day,” Kingson said.

“I’m working hard at home with the defence, they like playing out from the back with the ball so I have to adjust myself to them and I hope in the next game everything will be perfect.”

In addition to Gilks, Blackpool will also be without long-term absentees Alex Baptiste and Billy Clarke.

Coyle will again have to make do without the services of Ricardo Gardner, Jlloyd Samuel, Sean Davis and Joey O’Brien.