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Bolton logo
Championship
Jan 10, 2015 at 3pm UK
 
Leeds logo

1-1

Gudjohnsen (48' pen.)
FT(HT: 0-1)
Austin (3' pen.)

Preview: Bolton Wanderers vs. Leeds United

Sports Mole looks ahead to Saturday's Championship clash between Bolton and struggling Leeds at the Macron Stadium.

After a turbulent 2014, Leeds United will look to get 2015 off to a better start with their first league game of the year when they face Bolton Wanderers at the Macron Stadium this weekend.

However, Neil Redfearn's side will need a change in fortunes for that to happen, having failed to win any of their last six games in all competitions.

A run of just one point from a possible 15 at the end of last year saw Leeds slump down to 20th place in the table, with just one point separating them from the bottom three.

Indeed, failure to end that poor form this weekend could see them slip into the relegation zone, with Brighton & Hove Albion and Millwall facing Charlton Athletic and Blackpool respectively.

Goals have been a major issue for the club recently, with last weekend's 1-0 FA Cup defeat to Sunderland at the Stadium of Light making it three matches in a row and four of their last five in which they have failed to score.

Their away form has also been dire, with Leeds managing just one win and six points on their travels in the league - the second lowest tally in the division.

They have, however, won three of their last four against Bolton, including a 1-0 victory at Elland Road earlier in the campaign.

Redfearn has no new injury concerns to worry about, but is expected to make a number of changes from the side that was eliminated from the FA Cup last time out.

Not too long ago, Bolton were also troubled by the thought of relegation, but Neil Lennon's appointment has turned things around at the club and they are now looking up the table rather than over their shoulders.

They ended the year with a disappointing defeat at the hands of Huddersfield Town, but that remains their only loss in their last 10 outings in all competitions.

The most recent of those saw them progress through to the fourth round of the FA Cup as youngster Zach Clough scored the only goal of the game in a victory over local rivals Wigan Athletic - perhaps enough to earn him another start this weekend.

That was the Trotters' sixth home victory in seven games under Lennon, who has only dropped two points at the Macron since his arrival.

The hosts will still be without long-term injury absentees Joe Mason, Marc Tierney, Mark Davies and Max Clayton, while the match will also come too soon for Rob Hall.

Lee Chung-yong also misses out due to the Asia Cup, but Matt Mills is pushing for a return from an ankle injury and Kevin McNaughton is also in contention.

Bolton:

Form in Championship: WDDWWL
Form in all competitions: DDWWLW

Possible starting lineup: Lonergan; Vela, Dervite, Mills, Ream; Trotter, Pratley, Danns, Feeney; Clough, Gudjohnsen

Leeds:

Form in Championship: WLLDLL
Form in all competitions: LLDLLL

Possible starting lineup: Silvestri; Byram, Cooper, Pearce, Warnock; Cook, Mowatt, Bianchi; Adryan; Sharp, Antenucci

Sports Mole says: 2-0


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Written by
Barney Corkhill
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Manager Chris Powell of Huddersfield Town gestures during Sky Bet Championship match between Leeds United and Huddersfield Town at Elland Road Stadium on September 20, 2014
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