Official StokeMAD Match preview: Stoke v Bolton

Last updated : 16 April 2010 By Dan Buxton

The Potters host Bolton this Saturday in a game that sees two sides looking at different end of season run ins.

Stoke sit 10th in the Premier League, are mathematically safe, and hope to finish in the top half. Bolton have put themselves back into the driving seat in the fight to stay up in the Premier League and will be hoping to gain another three points in their quest to hold onto their top flight status.

Stoke have a decent home record this season and have already beaten Arsenal aswell as Manchester City, Blackburn, Burnley, West Ham, Sunderland, Fulham, Hull and Portsmouth whilst only losing to Manchester United, Birmingham, Arsenal and Chelsea and Spurs. The Potters have also not conceded a goal in 283 minutes. Bolton have had a poor season on the road and have only one victory, at West Ham, and three draws in their last sixteen trips.

In the 40 matches between these sides at Stoke, the Potters have won 22, the visitors 6 and twelve have been drawn. Last season when the pair clashed at the Britannia the game ended 2-0. Overall Bolton have won 32 times to the Potters 30. Bolton won the last time they visited before last season, winning 2-1 in a Division One clash in January 1997, but it was their first away win at Stoke since 1964.

The referee is Martin Atkinson. He took charge as Stoke beat West Ham 2-1 at the Brit earlier this season, aswell as the 3-1 cup win over Arsenal and the 2-0 cup defeat to Chelsea and 1-0 home defeat to Birmingham. He has refereed Bolton twice this season, a 1-0 home win against Burnley and a 4-0 home defeat against Manchester United.

The Met Office report that there will be medium level cloud, temperatures of a comfortable 14 degrees celsius, very good visibility and a breezy 14mph wind.

Prediction: Stoke get stuck into their visitors from the off and take an early lead through the returning Fuller. The game is secured late on when youngster Moult opens his Potters account with a great finish