Newcastle v Bolton Wanderers match preview

Newcastle travels to Reebok Stadium to face Bolton with both sides desperate for points. With a draw against Everton last week and a victory over West Brom the prior week, the Magpies have found a morsel of space above the drop zone. However with Middlesbrough shocker defeat of Liverpool, the relegation battle is rearing its ugly head again and action is needed.

Gary Megson's Bolton have been a fine squad at home, upending West Ham and Tottenham in their two most recent matches and know a victory on Sunday will thrust them into the top half of the table. With the table so congested, they are not only a bit too close to the drop zone to call completely safe but equally only five points off a Europa League spot.

Unfortunately for Newcastle, this provides Bolton greater motivation if they needed it and it will mean Chris Hughton and completely will need to come up big for the match. Targeting another eleven points to a target of thirty-nine for safety, the Magpies have a painfully difficult schedule ahead that includes Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea over the next four weeks. Couple in matches against Liverpool and Aston Villa in the later stages of the campaign, five of their eleven matches are against European bound teams and points against Bolton are a must.

Bolton looks to be fully-fit and ready to go whilst Newcastle is without Kevin Nolan who is in the sin-bin for a dreadful challenge and Danny Guthrie is unlikely. The Magpies have a host of players slowly returning to health with both Andy Carroll and Alan Smith likely finding their way into the starting eleven.