Bolton Wanderers vs Manchester City – Match Preview

With thanks to Xavi for this preview, and a thank you to all of our other contributors this season.

Bolton Wanderers v Manchester City
Barclays Premier League
Sunday, 22 May 2011, Reebok Stadium
Kick off: 4pm

After 58 competitive games in all competitions, Manchester City’s long season come to an end with outing number 59 away to Bolton Wanderers on Sunday.

It has been a campaign that has gone better than expected with the delivery of a trophy after a drought of over three decades, while qualification for the Champions League has also been secured for the first time.

Just when you thought things couldn’t get much better, a defeat for Arsenal last weekend, coupled with City’s Tuesday night win over Stoke, means a final day win will see the Blues finish in third spot and avoid the qualification rounds of Europe’s premier club competition.

The news this week that Carlos Tevez would like to leave Eastlands is a major disappointment given the striker’s goal scoring record over the past two seasons but even that shouldn’t be able to dampen the club’s best season for a long time.

There was more to celebrate as well this week as Joe Hart picked up the Premier League’s Golden Glove award for keeping the most clean sheets (17) this year.

“It’s a great honour to get this. But it doesn’t mean I’m the best goalkeeper in the Premier League – I’m collecting it on behalf of the whole team, because we defend as a team,” he said.

“A few of the lads have been keeping tabs on it and they were keener for us to get the club record. It’s a surprising number of clean sheets to keep, and you’ve got to be happy.

“It’s crazy! I’ve won this and got an FA Cup winner’s medal in the space of a few days – there was a time I didn’t think I’d win anything!”

Hart has one more chance to add to his now club record amount of clean sheets, though Owen Coyle’s impressive Bolton Wanderers side won’t be an easy prospect.

Former City striker Daniel Sturridge has been on fire since moving to the Reebok Stadium on loan from Chelsea, scoring eight goals in 11 games. It remains to be seen where the 21 year old will play his football next year but he hasn’t ruled out leaving Stamford Bridge permanently.

“I want to play first-team football regularly for Chelsea but if the chances don’t come at Chelsea then I will have to try and look elsewhere,” he said.

“I do want to play regularly here but for me next season it’s very important to play first-team football. I love the club; I’ve been here now for a year-and-a-half and been on loan with Bolton.

“I don’t want to say that I’m going to leave the club. Whatever Chelsea decides (about a loan) it’s not for me to make that decision, but the only decision I can make is that I want to play first-team football.”

It’s been a good season for Bolton with a top half finish in their own hands and, even though it turned to be a massive anti climax, their run to the semi finals of the FA Cup provided great excitement for their fans.

Both sides will be looking to end their season on a high with three points so expect to see an open, free flowing game between two teams currently playing great football.

Bolton Wanderers: Jaaskelainen, Knight, Cahill, Robinson, Steinsson, Gardner, Muamba, M. Davies, Cohen, Taylor, Lee, K. Davies, Elmander, Klasnic, Moreno, Sturridge, Blake, Petrov, Bogdan, Wheater
Manchester City: Hart, Given, Zabaleta, Richards, Boyata, Kompany, Lescott, Kolarov, de Jong, Barry, Vieira, Milner, Wright-Phillips, A. Johnson, Silva, Y. Toure, Jo, Dzeko, Balotelli, Tevez

Key Players:

Manchester City – Carlos Tevez
Not that it was needed but Tevez gave a reminder of his undoubted abilities on Tuesday night with two sublime goals against Stoke City. His first comprised of a neat one two with James Milner and some quick feet to rifle home from inside the area while his second was a stunning free kick from over 30 yards out. Sunday may be the last time we see Tevez in a City shirt so all eyes will be on the Argentine. Fingers crossed that if he leaves he does it with a bang by helping to guarantee that third spot.

Bolton Wanderers – Daniel Sturridge
As already mentioned, the striker has been banging in goals for fun lately. The fact that he may be playing his last game for Bolton, coupled with maybe a few old scores to settle against City, may lead to a vintage performance from the England under 21 international.

Prediction:
Bolton Wanderers 1 (Sturridge)
Manchester City 2 (Tevez, Dzeko)

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