EPL 2011-12 Preview: West Brom vs Bolton

West Brom hosts Bolton, on matchday 12 of the Premier League, on Saturday, November 19, 2011.

West Brom are coming off a 3-0 loss to Arsenal on Matchday 11. Van Persie proved too good for the Baggies, first giving his team the lead in the 22nd minute and assisting Vermaelen and Arteta in either one. interval side. West Brom gave a good account of themselves at the beginning, and until Van Persie’s goal, the contest was even. But Arsenal seemed to draw strength from the goal and it was smooth sailing, and especially after the break, it was difficult for the visitors to leave their own half. The result cannot be taken as an indictment against Roy Hodgson’s men, as they faced a superior team that came into form.

Bolton recorded a scintillating 5-0 win over Stoke City in a home game on Matchday 11. Coming into the game with 13 defeats in their last 16 Premier League games, Bolton took revenge on Stoke, who he had beaten them by an identical score in April. Stoke had also ended Bolton’s FA Cup campaign last season.

Bolton’s win was predicated on goals from Davies, Eagles and Klasnic, the latter two scoring braces. While Stoke looked exhausted from their midweek European Cup game in Tel Aviv, there was no denying Bolton’s positive intent on the game which could help them kick off a campaign in decline.

Head to head, in the last 10 years, West Brom and Bolton have met in 20 league games, Bolton recorded 7 wins against West Brom’s 2, with the remaining 11 games drawn. The last time these teams met was in December 2010, a match hosted at the Reebok Stadium and won by Bolton 2-0.

West Brom have won 3, lost 5 and drawn the remaining 2 of their last 10 league matches, while Bolton have won 2 and lost the remaining 8 of their last 10 matches.

Currently ranked 14th in the league table, the Baggies have hosted 5 home games, this season, winning and drawing 1 each, while losing their remaining 3 games; Bolton, who are ranked 18th, have had 2 wins and 3 losses in their 5 away games.

West Brom’s starting eleven against Arsenal: Foster, Reid, McAuley, Olsson, Jones, Morrison, Dorrans, Brunt, Cox, Gera, Thomas

Bolton starting XI against Stoke City: Jaaskelainen, Riley, Cahill, Wheater, Robinson, Davies, Muamba, Reo-Coker, Eagles, Klasnic, Davies