With all the attention surrounding Saturday’s eagerly-awaited all-Manchester FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, we should not forget that two of the Premier League’s middle of the road sides are hoping to make some history by reaching the final when Bolton face Stoke on Sunday afternoon (4pm Kick-off).
Owen Coyle is looking to guide the Wanderers to their first FA Cup final since 1958 – when they defeated Manchester United 2-0 at Wembley thanks to a double from Nat Lofthouse.
Sadly, Lofthouse passed away earlier this year so what a fitting tribute it would be to the Trotters legend if his beloved Bolton could reach the final where, ironically, they could be up against the Red Devils (13/8 Man U v Bolton Name The Finalists) just like 53 years ago.
Coyle will be missing the potency of the cup-tied on-loan striker Daniel Sturridge so he will have to pitch Rodrigo or Ivan Klasnic (15/8 Anytime Goalscorer) into his starting XI for the game.
Midfielder Mark Davies is expected to be included in the squad after returning to training following an ankle problem. But Stuart Holden, Sean Davis and Sam Ricketts remain sidelined through injury.
However, four-times FA Cup winners Bolton (9/2 Outright) go into the contest in fairly good form having kept six clean sheets in their last nine FA Cup games and they have lost only two of their last nine matches in all competitions.
Stoke have never played in an FA Cup final (Evens To Qualify) after falling at the semi-final stage in 1899 and in the 1970-71 and 1971-72 seasons when, on both occasions, they lost to Arsenal in a replay.
Potters boss Tony Pulis will stick with Denmark goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen, who replaces regular number one Asmir Begovic, because he has been a regular in previous rounds.
Striker John Carew (8/1 First Goalscorer) could come into contention following a four-match absence with a back problem.
Stoke have won, lost and drawn in their last three Premier League games, but have managed to score in their last nine games against Bolton (19/10 To keep A Clean Sheet) to give them hope.
Bolton enjoy the better of their previous FA Cup meetings with three wins from five, with one draw and one win for Stoke, while both sides have won on home soil in this season?s Premier League encounters.
Looking at the record between the two sides it is impossible to pick a winner and for that reason I am expecting it to be a long afternoon at Wembley with a penalty shoot-out (10/1 Bolton & Stoke To Win On Penalties) not beyond the realms of possibility.
Prediction: Draw 90 Minutes @ 9/4
Value Bet: 1-1 Correct Score @ 11/2.
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