Bolton vs Chelsea – Match Preview, 13.30

             

Fernando Torres starts his three-match domestic ban today,  that follows his high profile sending off last weekend against Norwich for a two-footed tackle.

               

Daniel Sturridge is fit again, and Frank Lampard is pushing for a return to the starting XI after scoring against Valencia on Wednesday.

                

Bolton will be missing midfielder Stuart Holden who is expected to miss the next six months cartilage damage to his knee.

               

Other players missing include David Wheater and Ivan Klasnic who are both suspended, and Gael Kakuta is not able to play due to not being able to play against their parent club.

                  

                

Whilst the Blues are well placed in fourth, they have collected 13 points from six games and a win would put them three points behind the two Manchester Clubs.

               

Bolton got off to flyer by thrashing Chelsea’s neighbours QPR 4-0 but since then they have failed to pick up another point and sit bottom of the league.

                 

               

Chelsea have not lost in the last 15 league meeting between the two clubs, and have won the last six games. In the last eight games at Reebok, Chelsea have scored 18 goals whilst Bolton have not scored in any of those games.

                  

Nicolas Anelka has scored five goals in his last eight league games against his old club.

                 

            

In the last two meetings in Bolton, the Blues have run out 4-0 winners, and Chelsea are 22s to do it again today.

                 

With Drogba likely to start, he is worth backing as first goal scorer at 9/2 with Lampard 8s to follow Wednesday’s goal and get the first goal, meanwhile Daniel Sturridge is 11/2 to net first against the club where he was on loan last season.

                

By Scott Balaam

Twitter @AStamBridge2Far