Bolton and Everton go in search of consistency as the two sides meet at the Reebok Stadium on Saturday.
Trotters given the chance to move out of the relegation zone
Bolton and Everton go in search of consistency as the two sides meet at the Reebok Stadium in the Premier League on Saturday.
Both teams have failed to win back-to-back league games since April and the Toffees have a chance to follow up last week's 2-1 win over Wolves.
But after their 5-0 win over Stoke in early November, Bolton came back down to earth with a bump after losing at West Bromwich Albion last week.
It was a result that left the Trotters slumped in the drop zone and they are now two points adrift with just three wins all season.
In fact, no other top flight side has lost as many games (nine) as Bolton this season and they are also the only team to have not drawn a match.
Everton's win over Mick McCarthy's side lifted them up to 12th in the table and a win could see them move up another four places.
David Moyes has acknowledged the lack of flair in his side in the build-up to the game, describing the reasons behind a lack of chances being created, although in Bolton they come up against statistically the worst defence in the league.
Team news
However, Owen Coyle may be able to call upon the services of on-loan defender Dedryck Boyata who has missed the last three games with a knee injury.
The 20-year-old has returned to training and will be assessed ahead of kick-off after making six appearances before his injury.
Boyata's comeback could be perfectly timed as young right-back Joe Riley is set to miss out after suffering a hamstring injury.
Riley made his league debut at Stoke in early November before playing another 90 minutes in last week's defeat at The Hawthorns.
But Bolton's long-term injury problems still persist, with Mikel Alonso, Ricardo Gardner, Tyrone Mears, Chung Yong Lee, Stuart Holden, Sean Davis and Sam Ricketts all sidelined.
Everton have doubts over captain Phil Neville, defender Sylvain Distin and midfielder Jack Rodwell who will all face late fitness tests.
Neville picked up a hamstring injury and was substituted against Newcastle at the start of November.
Distin has not featured since the game in the North East with a groin complaint and Rodwell suffered a rib injury whilst on international duty with England.
Possible starting XIs
Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Boyata, Wheater, Cahill, Robinson, Eagles, Reo-Coker, Muamba, Petrov, Klasnic, Davies
Everton: Howard, Neville, Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Coleman, Rodwell, Fellaini, Drenthe, Cahill, Saha
