Peterborough United v Bolton Wanderers - Preview

Peterborough United are looking to give their fans an early Christmas present by building on their outstanding win over table toppers Cardiff and move out of the relegation places.

Peterborough United -Vs- Bolton Wanderers
Venue: London Road
Date: 22nd December, 2012
Kick-off: 3pm

Posh welcome visitors Bolton Wanderers to London Road for the first time in 18 years as they look to build on their impressive win over Cardiff City last weekend.

Posh caused the upset of the season with their 2-1 win last weekend. In fact, the scoreline flattered the Welsh team who had a 100% winning record prior to the game. The performance by Posh earned them their second "F&C Investments Performance of the Week" award.

Posh are looking to build on their performance last week and kick start their season which could see them move out of the relegation places if they beat Bolton while the three teams directly above them all lose.

Bolton haven`t had the season they were hoping for as they currently lie in 14th place in the Championship. Having been relegated from the Premiership last season, they had high hopes of a quick return but a poor start to the season saw them change managers with Dougie Freedman coming in from Crystal Palace.

His arrival has seen Bolton hard to beat and have only lost once in the nine matches Freedman has been in charge. However, they have drawn five of these matches. Their last defeat was a 2-1 reverse to resurgent Ipswich Town. Although The Trotters won their last Championship match 2-0 against Charlton, they haven`t won two games in a row this season! Posh on the other hand will be looking to win twice on the bounce for the third time this season.

There have only been six League encounters between these two sides with Wanderers winning four times and drawing once.

Posh`s only win over The Trotters came in February 1992 when they were both in the old Division Three. Posh came out 1-0 winners thanks to a Tony Adcock goal. That win was the fifth win in a club record run of nine wins on the trot.

The last time these teams met at London Road came two seasons later when they were both in Division One. The 1993/94 match ended in a 3-2 win to Bolton thanks to two Andy Walker goals and an own goal by Steve Welsh. Brian McGorry and Gary Hackett hit the Posh goals.

TEAM NEWS

Peterborough United

Posh boss Darren Ferguson will name the same team that started last weekends match at Cardiff City.

Nat Knight-Percival has recovered from the ankle injury he picked up during that game and will retain his place in the back three.

Fergie has no other new injury concerns with the only decision being whether to name midfielder Danny Kearns on the subs bench or to name a teenage striker.

Vital Posh predicts the starting line-up will be:

Olejnik

Bostwick, Zakuani, Knight-Percival

Little, Thorne, Rowe
Tomlin       Boyd

Gayle

Bolton Wanderers

Mark Davies and Matt Mills will both be missing from the Bolton side as they are recovering from shoulder and thigh problems respectively.

Stuart Holden, David Wheater and Josh Vela are all out of contention with the latter two suffering with knee injuries.

Former Liverpool striker David Ngog will be hoping for a starting slot after scoring in last weekends win over Charlton after coming off the subs bench.

HOTSHOTS

Peterborough United

6 - Lee Tomlin
6 - George Boyd
4 - Dwight Gayle
3 - Michael Bostwick

Bolton Wanderers

7 - Eagles
6 - K.Davies
5 - M.Davies
4 - Ngog

REFEREE

NIGEL MILLER takes charge of this match. To find out more details of the referee, click HERE.

He will be assisted by Daniel Leach and Mark Howes.

The fourth official is Nigel Murphy.

PREDICTION

It`s going to be another very tough match for Posh as they host former Premiership side Bolton Wanderers.

Posh have arguably played their best football away from home this season and have often disappointed at home. Will last weeks performance and result at Cardiff have a positive effect on the side? It should do but every match this season is a massive game.

The possibility of moving out of the relegation places just before Christmas could have a huge bearing on the rest of the season.

The ideal scenario come 5pm on Saturday would be a win for Posh and defeats for Sheffield Wednesday, Barnsley and Bristol City but Posh may just pick up a point in their tussle with the Trotters.

Posh to draw: 1 - 1.

UP THE POSH

Follow me on Twitter: @mwl1967

Photos/images courtesy of www.theposhpics.com.

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