English Premier
2012-03-03 - Manchester City vs Bolton Wanderers
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Saturday 3 March 2012 - Kick Off 3pm
Manchester City
Roberto Mancini will know this is a period that his side can really start putting the pressure on local rivals Manchester United as the race for the Premier League title begins entering the home run. Manchester City play this game 24 hours before United travel to 3rd placed Tottenham Hotspur and the team will feel they can put some added pressure by increasing the gap at the top to 5 points ahead of that game.
City are top of the Premier League table with a 2 point advantage over United thanks to an imperious record at the Etihad Stadium where they have won all 13 League games they have played, scoring a League-high 40 goals and conceding a League-low 6. It would be a huge surprise if they cannot extend that run to 14/14 on Saturday ahead of a Europa League game at Sporting Lisbon next Thursday.
Blip? What blip? There were some concerns at Eastlands that City were coming off the rails a touch as they went through a run of 2 wins from 6 games in all competitions. However, they come into this game off the back of 5 consecutive wins in all competitions, while they continue to be a free-scoring side at home. City have won 4 in a row here in all competitions since a defeat to Manchester United in the FA Cup, scoring 13 goals in those games and keeping clean sheets in the last 3 here.
Carlos Tevez is the only absentee in the squad that is injury free at the moment. Tevez played for the reserves during the week, but won't be considered for the first team for at least a couple more weeks.
Bolton Wanderers
It is going to be interesting to see what kind of approach Owen Coyle takes to this game with his Bolton Wanderers side struggling in the League. The relegation dogfight could easily come down to goal difference for some of the teams this season and I have a feeling he may take a similar approach as Steve Kean last week and try not to concede too many goals. The team have the second worst goal difference in the League and cannot afford too many more thumpings.
Bolton are 19th in the Premier League following a 3-0 loss at Chelsea last week, but their 20 points gained means they are only 2 points behind Wolves in 16th as the bottom 5 teams are all separated by a couple of points. They bring a decent 4-0-9 away record to City this week, having scored 14 goals in those games and conceding 27.
The team have moved through to the 6th Round of the FA Cup this season, but they will be more concerned with the 1 point gained from the last 12 available in the Premier League since an impressive 3-1 win over Liverpool at home. The Trotters have struggled for goals since that Liverpool game, scoring just 1 in the last 4 League games. Bolton have lost 3 consecutive away games in the League, failing to score in any of them.
Dedryck Boyata is ineligible to play in this game as he is being loaned from City, while Kevin Davies is a major doubt. Mark Davies should shake off a knock and take his place in the side.
Head to Head
Bolton were beaten 2-3 by Manchester City at home earlier this season in an entertaining game.
That is the 4th consecutive League loss they have suffered at the hands of their rich neighbours.
City have won their last 4 home games in the Premier League against Bolton, keeping clean sheets in their last 3.
Prediction
I would be more than a little surprised if Manchester City dropped any points from this fixture and I have a feeling this will be a game that follows a similar pattern to the game against Blackburn Rovers last week.
Bolton will be aware that they cannot really afford to take a heavy loss here and are likely to set up to defend properly and I expect little threats up front against a City team that has just not conceded many goals at home all season.
I hate when everything points to one outcome as football rarely provides the obvious to happen.
However, the 2.00 offered at Corals that Manchester City win this game to nil looks far too generous considering the situation and the home record City have coming into the game. I expect City will win the game, and I expect Bolton would be happy getting out of dodge without a hammering so it looks reasonable to think this will be the outcome on Saturday afternoon, just as it has been for the last 3 games City have played here.
The fact that Bolton have failed to score at Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur in the League this season makes the win to nil the obvious choice.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Manchester City 3-0 Bolton Wanderers.
BEST BETTING TIP :
I'll back Manchester City win to nil @ 2.00 (Coral)
