Bolton v Fulham preview

Hughes: Doubt

PREDICTIONS

Skysports.com prediction: Bolton 2 Fulham 0
Sky Bet odds: Bolton 11/10 Draw 9/4 Fulham 13/5
One to watch: Johan Elmander

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Bolton host Fulham at the Reebok on Saturday with just one place and one point separating the two teams in the table.

The Cottagers currently have the advantage but Gary Megson's men will be confident of ending the day above the visitors.

Fulham are yet to win away from home in the Premier League this season and have lost their last two league games to leave them warily looking over their shoulder at the drop zone.

Despite both clubs sitting in mid-table the threat of relegation is a very real one for either side with Bolton just five points clear of Portsmouth in 18th.

Bolton team news

Megson has no new injury concerns ahead of the clash with his side benefiting from a break since their last outing against Stoke giving them the chance to shake off any minor knocks in the process.

But after a poor performance against the Potters the former West Brom boss may opt to make changes.

After losing 2-0 to their fellow relegation candidates defenders Andrew O'Brien and Jlloyd Samuel could pay for their below-par performances at the Britannia Stadium.

Defender Joey O'Brien (knee) remains a long-term absentee.

Fulham team news

Hodgson looks set to be forced to dismantle his settled back four of Aaron Hughes, Brede Hangeland, Paul Konchesky and John Pantsil.

The quartet have played in 24 of the club's 28 league games this term but an injury to Hughes which forced him off in the midweek home defeat by Blackburn could mean that a change is inevitable.

Fulham struggled without the Northern Ireland international, with Rovers striker Jason Roberts turning his replacement Toni Kallio in the area to score the winner at the death and the Finn is likely to replace Hughes at the Reebok.

Hodgson has put his side's poor form down to fatigue but with 10 of his squad having played in at least 24 league matches this campaign the former Inter boss has not got a big enough squad to start rotating his players.

On a more positive note striker Bobby Zamora should return to the team after missing the Blackburn game through injury while Olivier Dacourt could come in to freshen things up in midfield at the expense of Dickson Etuhu.

Possible starting XIs

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, O'Brien, Steinsson, Samuel, Cahill, Taylor, Davies, Muamba, McCann, Davies, Elmander.

Fulham: Schwarzer, Kallio, Hangeland, Konchesky, Pantsil, Murphy, Davies, Dacourt, Dempsey, Johnson, Zamora.