Manchester City Preview

By Mark Heys
October 29 2007

Near neighbours Manchester City are the visitors to the Reebok Stadium this Wednesday evening as Bolton Wanderers go in search of progression in the next phase of this seasons Carling Cup competition.

Bolton defeated Fulham in the last round of this competition thanks to a debut strike from midfielder Danny Guthrie and a late effort from the experienced Stelios Giannakopoulos but in City they find a side in form with last weekend's drumming at Chelsea aside.

Former England coach Sven Goran Eriksson has been like a breath of fresh air since arriving at Eastlands in the summer and Wanderers must be on their guard when facing the Swede's much improved City team.

Last season City looked down and out in and amongst the Premier League strugglers whilst Bolton sat comfortably amid the top eight teams but it has been all change with both sides seemingly swapping places this season so far.

City are challenging neighbours United in the early season title race whilst Bolton sit just ahead of bottom club Derby County following their weekend draw with Aston Villa.

Of course, Premier League form goes out of the window for one night only and the Trotters will be hoping to repeat the form which lead them to the League Cup final in 1995 and 2004 respectively.

Former City midfielder Gary Megson took charge of his first Bolton game on Sunday and he will have been encouraged with the sides first half performance when they showed a lot of grit and determination.

Sadly the new Wanderers boss will be without ex-Citezens favourite Nicolas Anelka after the Bolton top scorer pulled out of the Villa game late on with a knock.

Megson saw the return from injury of left back Jlloyd Samuel just a few days ago but Heidar Helguson. Ricardo Vaz-Te and Blerim Dzemaili are long term absentees.

Winger Christian Wilhelmsson is not yet quite match fit but the Swedish international is expected to return to action at the start of November and could be in line for a return for the game against West Ham United or Middlesbrough.

Eriksson's high flying City team are at almost full strength with only youngster Daniel Sturridge and Bulgarian Valeri Bojinov out for the long term with thigh and knee injuries.

LAST TIME WE MET:

13/01/2007 BOLTON WANDERERS 0 MANCHESTER CITY 0

BOLTON: Jussi Jaaskelainen, Nicky Hunt, Tal Ben-Haim, Abdoulaye Meite, Ricardo Gardner, Ivan Campo, Gary Speed, Idan Tal (Andranik Teimourian), Kevin Davies (Stelios Giannakopoulos), Nicolas Anelka, El-Hadji Diouf (Ricardo Vaz-Te)

SUBS NOT USED: Blazej Augustyn, Ian Walker (GK)

CITY: Nicky Weaver, Micah Richards, Richard Dunne, Nedum Onuoha, Slyvain Distin, Ousmane Dabo, Stephen Ireland, Joey Barton, Trevor Sinclair, Bernardo Corradi (Georgios Samaras), Darius Vassell (Ishmael Miller)

SUBS NOT USED: DaMarcus Beasley, Matthew Mills, Andreas Isaksson (GK)

PLAYED FOR BOTH:

Nicolas Anelka, Peter Barnes, Peter Beardsley, David Cross, Tony Cunningham, Wyn Davies, Andy Dibble, Mike Doyle, Asa Hartford, Colin Hendry, Tony Henry, Freddie Hill, Steve Howey, Alan Kernaghan, Brian Kidd, Francis Lee, Stuart Lee, Billy McAdams, Neil McNab, Andy May, Jamie Pollock, Peter Reid, Paul Ritchie, Mark Seagraves, Barry Siddall, Nicky Summerbee, Gerry Taggart, Mike Walsh, Tommy Wright

DID YOU KNOW?:

Bolton and City have never met in the League Cup before but they have met in the FA Cup, the last instance coming in January 1947 when City ran out 1-0 winners at Maine Road after a thrilling 3-3 draw at Burnden Park.

Current Wanderers manager Gary Megson played for City between 1989 and 1992 but he was unfortunately injured when the Blues ran out 5-1 winners against neighbours United in September 1989.

Former Bolton and City defender Paul Ritchie appeared for the Wanderers in the 2000 League Cup Semi Finals against Tranmere Rovers. Later that season the Scot also appeared at Wembley for Bolton in the FA Cup Semi Finals.