Premier League preview: WBA v Bolton

West Bromwich Albion will be keen to bounce back from consecutive Premier League defeats when they face Bolton on Saturday.

The Baggies, who sit 14th on the table, lost any momentum they had gained from a four-match unbeaten run after they suffered back-to-back losses at the hands of Liverpool and Arsenal.

But Roy Hodgson’s side have the perfect chance to respond against the struggling Bolton, who occupy one of the three dreaded places in the relegation zone.

Bolton’s season may just have turned around though, after a 5-0 win against Stoke last time out, meaning that Hodgson will be even more keen to see striker Peter Odemwingie and midfielder Paul Scharner feature in the match at The Hawthorns.

“Peter and Paul are making progress. Things look a lot brighter than they did two weeks ago,” Hodgson said.

“But it’s too early to say whether they will be fit for Saturday. It is not impossible but they are longish shots, especially Scharner.”

Odemwingie and Scharner will be given until the last minute to prove their fitness as they come back from ankle and knee injuries respectively, with the fitness of the former – who bagged 15 Premier League goals last season – even more important with fellow striker Shane Long sidelined with a knee problem.

If both forwards miss out, West Brom will field a team that would not have a player that has scored more than once in the league this season, meaning that keeping a clean sheet could prove even more vital.

But despite Bolton’s troubles this season, they have still scored 18 goals, which is more than 14 other teams.

That statistic shows that if Owen Coyle can tighten up his side’s defence, then they are more than capable of avoiding the drop.

Croatian striker Ivan Klasnic has five Premier League goals this season while Chris Eagles has proved to be a bargain signing, netting three goals and setting up many others since his off-season move from Coyle’s former club, Burnley.

Bolton’s defence is the worst in the league though and that should give West Brom enough chances to win the game, with the result potentially hanging on their ability to convert them.