FA CUP PREVIEW: BOLTON v CARDIFF CITY

A comprehensive look at City's FA Cup fourth round tie

Bolton Wanderers v Cardiff City
Venue: The Reebok Stadium
Date: Saturday, 25th January, KO 3pm
Nav it: BL6 6JW
Match-tag:#FACup (Live tweets on @CardiffCityFC)
LISTEN LIVE ON CARDIFF CITY PLAYER

Cardiff City travel to the Reebok Stadium to take on Championship side Bolton Wanderers in the fourth round of the FA Cup with Budweiser.

MATCH FACTS

- Cardiff City last won in Bolton in 1970 when goals from Ian Gibson and Brian Clark saw the Bluebirds to a 2-0 victory in the old Division Two.
- In fact, City haven’t beaten Bolton in all competitions since 1989 where 4,212 saw a 1-0 victory at Ninian Park.
- City pair Kevin McNaughton and Joe Mason have played for opponents Bolton Wanderers this season during loan spells. McNaughton made thirteen appearances at the Reebok Stadium while Mason made eight appearances for Dougie Freedman’s side.
- The Trotters made the semi-final of the FA Cup in 2011 where they lost to Stoke City 5-0 at Wembley, the Potters had beaten Cardiff City en route to their semi-final place.
- Bolton’s 7-1 loss to Reading last weekend was their heaviest defeat in 32 years in all competitions.

KEY PLAYER: Jay Spearing



The former Liverpool midfielder has been the main man in the Trotters midfield this campaign having played 25 of their 26 Championship matches so far this season.

IN-FORM PLAYER:  Neil Danns



The midfielder made a timely return to the Reebok Stadium this month having impressed during his initial loan spell from Championship rivals Leicester City. Danns has scored four goals for the Trotters this season, with a run of three goals in four games during December helping 18th placed Wanderers to valuable points during the festive season.

RECENT FORM (ALL COMPETITIONS):

Cardiff City: LDLWLL
Last time out: Manchester City 4-2 Cardiff City – Saturday, 18th January, Barclays Premier League.



Cardiff’s stubborn resistance was eventually broken at the Etihad Stadium as Premier League title challengers Manchester City ran out 4-2 winners. Goals from Edin Dzeko, Jesus Navas, Yaya Toure and substitute Sergio Aguero was enough to claim all three points despite Craig Noone’s initial equaliser and Fraizer Campbell’s consolation late on.

Team - Cardiff City: Marshall, Caulker (C), Turner, Whittingham, Medel, Campbell (Odemwingie 77), Gunnarsson, Mutch, Cowie, Theophile-Catherine, John. Subs not used: Lewis; Connolly, Hudson, Cornelius, Kim, Noone.

Bolton Wanderers:  WLDWDL
Last time out: Reading 7-1 Bolton Wanderers – Saturday, 18th January, Skybet Championship.



Bolton were consigned to a heavy defeat at the Madejski Stadium as a hat-trick from Adam Le Fondre and goals from Pavel Pogrebnyak, Kaspars Gorkss, Hope Akpan and Nick Blackman secured a comfortable victory for the Royals.

Team – Bolton Wanderers: Lonergan, Mills, Baptiste, Knight, Ream, Danns, Pratley (Medo, 62), Davies (S Odelusi, 67), Spearing, Lee, Ngog. Subs not used: Hall, White, Bogdan, Davies, Eagles.

BETTING

Bet with our official online betting partners SkyBet and back your club! www.skybet.com/cardiff

Bolton Wanderers: 8/5
Draw: 23/10
Cardiff City: 13/8

Match Special: Fraizer Campbell to score first in a 2-0 victory brings odds of 40/1! Bet £10 and possibly win £400.


LAST COMPETITIVE MEETING:
2012/13: Saturday, 27th April 2013, Championship - Cardiff City 1-1 Bolton Wanderers



The last home game of City’s Championship winning campaign saw the Bluebirds lift the Football League trophy as Champions as celebrations of the club’s promotion to the Barclays Premier League continued. In the game, Chris Eagles has given Bolton the lead before Craig Noone hit a 68th minute equaliser.

Team - Cardiff City: Marshall, Taylor, McNaughton (Nugent, 83), Connolly, Turner, Conway (Noone, 59), Mutch (Smith, 63), Gunnarsson, Kim, Bellamy, Gestede. Subs not used: Whittingham, Lewis, Velikonja, Mason.   
         
REFEREE: Jonathan Moss

Jon Moss qualified as a referee in 1988 and made his first big strides as an official 11 years later, working his way up the Football League pyramid to the Select Group of referees in 2011.

He was appointed for his first Premier League match in December 2010. The clash between Wigan Athletic and Aston Villa was postponed, but he did make his top flight debut in January 2011, when he oversaw Birmingham City’s 2-1 victory over Blackpool.

Moss last officiated a Cardiff City game on New Year’s Day this year, taking charge of the Bluebirds clash with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, a game that saw Nicklas Bendtner and Theo Walcott goals grab a 2-0 win for the Gunners.

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