Sky Sports pundit David Prutton has issued his verdict on the League One tie between Bolton Wanderers and Blackpool on Monday evening–predicting a win for the Tangerines.
Bolton are yet to win this season but have been gathering momentum in recent weeks and have earned some impressive results–particularly the draws with Oxford United and Sunderland.
After starting the campaign with a 12-point deduction, they face a mammoth task to survive this season and are already 18 points away from safety.
Their opponents on Monday night are within touching distance from the top and sit sixth, three points away from the automatic promotion places.
Writing on the Sky Sports website, Prutton revealed how he saw the meeting at the Macron Stadium going.
He said: “Bolton may not have won a game yet this season, but their last three League One fixtures have been extremely tough and they are not getting hammered by five or six anymore, so at least they are on the right path.
“Blackpool, meanwhile, are back on the up, having picked up seven points from their last three games. I think they will be the winners on Monday night.”
Prutton predicted the result would be a 2-1 win for the visitors.
The clash will be the first meeting between the two sides since they met in the EFL Trophy in 2016, which resulted in a 1-0 win for the Trotters.
Blackpool have won just once in the last nine meetings but Simon Grayson’s side will surely be the favourites for this one given the way the two sides have started the season.
The Verdict
Bolton have improved as the season has worn on but this might just be too much of an ask for Keith Hill’s men.
The Tangerines are in excellent form, having won twice in their last three games, and are competing right at the top of the table.
Following the successful takeover by Football Ventures, Bolton added some quality to their squad with some loan and free-agent signings but it still looks thin.
You tend to agree with Prutton that the away side are likely to just have a bit too much for the Trotters in this one.
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