Bolton v Newcastle

By Alistair Mann
BBC Match of the Day commentator

Newcastle welcome back key midfielder Yohan Cabaye for the Boxing Day trip to Bolton

TEAM NEWS

Bolton full-back Paul Robinson is likely to be recalled in place of Marcos Alonso, who faces a six-week absence after injuring his foot.

David Wheater is available after completing a four-match suspension.

Newcastle midfielder Yohan Cabaye also returns from a ban but Dan Gosling is still suspended.

Defender Davide Santon is a doubt with a knee problem, while Peter Lovenkrands, Danny Guthrie, Steven Taylor and Sylvain Marveaux are out.

MATCH PREVIEW

A year ago, Bolton fans watched their team perform with expression and confidence, deservedly meriting their top-six position, with a 5-1 thumping of Newcastle among a number of promising displays.

Though their season ultimately ended with an FA Cup semi-final humiliation and a five-game losing streak, Wanderers supporters could still reflect on a campaign free of relegation concerns and with a genuine belief that the days of struggle and anxiety were behind them.

A 4-0 win at QPR on the opening day of this season fuelled that optimism, but 13 defeats in the subsequent 16 games have dramatically altered their outlook.

Bolton’s win at Ewood Park last Tuesday, though, may yet prove to be a pivotal moment. Even a draw would have condemned them to the foot of the table at Christmas but to have ended as the victors in a must-win fixture demonstrated character and determination in equal measures.

The challenge now is to channel that positive energy into two home games in five days against opponents whose own recent form has been at best patchy.

While Wolves will follow on New Year’s Eve, Newcastle will represent Bolton’s first opportunity to improve on a miserable home record of just one win and seven defeats in eight home matches.

The visitors, who gathered 25 points from their first 11 games, have added just two more in six subsequent matches. After Bolton, Newcastle face Liverpool and Manchester United, so they will view this match with the same attitude as their hosts – as an opportunity to add some much-needed points.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Bolton have won seven of their last eight home matches in this fixture, including both previous Boxing Day encounters. Their 5-1 triumph last season was a club record score against Newcastle.

Bolton

• Bolton ended a five-match losing streak by beating Blackburn to climb off the foot of the table.
• The Trotters have the worst defensive record in the division, conceding 39 goals.
• Owen Coyle’s side have lost all 13 matches in which they went behind.
• Bolton are the only team not to have drawn a match in this season’s Premier League.
• Kevin Davies could play his 350th game for Bolton, while Martin Petrov is expected to make his 100th Premier League appearance.

Newcastle

• Newcastle are winless in six games (D2, L4). They have only taken one point from four matches in December – the equal-lowest tally along with QPR.
• They have won all seven matches in which they have opened the scoring this season – the best record in the division.
• Demba Ba has scored Newcastle’s last five goals, all coming in the last five matches.
• Newcastle’s most recent starting line up, against West Brom, had an average age of 24 years and 332 days old – their youngest in the division for five years.