Bolton v Birmingham preview

Coyle: Secured survival

Skysports.com prediction: Bolton 1 Birmingham 1
One to watch: Vladimir Weiss
SKY BET ODDS
Bolton 6/5 Draw 12/5 Birmingham 9/4 Bet on this match

MATCH FACTS

Kevin Phillips has scored in his last three Premier League appearances against Bolton. He is 11/4 to score on this occasion. Click here to bet.

Birmingham have never kept a clean sheet on the final day of a Premier League season. They are 3/1 to keep one this time. Click here to bet.

Bolton have kept only one clean sheet in 10 final day Premier League games. They are 15/8 to keep one. Click here to bet.

Wanderers need a win to avoid this being their second worst points haul in Premier League history. They are 6/5 to claim victory. Click here to bet.

Birmingham need a point to record their best ever total in the Premier League. They are 12/5 to get a draw. Click to bet.

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• Birmingham City
• Bolton Wanderers

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There will be little to play for at the Reebok Stadium on Sunday but that won't bother Bolton and Birmingham.

The two clubs were expected to struggle this season but have comfortably secured their Premier League status for another season and both will be glad they do not have to endure any final-day drama.

The threat of relegation loomed large for Bolton midway through the season but the Trotters have assured a 10th straight season in the top flight under the stewardship of Owen Coyle.

He took the Reebok reins in January following the departure of Gary Megson and has steered Wanderers to safety, with former club Burnley sliding into the bottom three and ultimately back into the Championship.

Three wins from four in February and March took Bolton out of the drop zone, and although a four-match losing streak left them looking over their shoulder, a 2-1 win at Stoke pushed them to the brink of survival, which was secured with two games to spare following a 2-2 draw against Portsmouth.

Blues record

Birmingham, meanwhile, are set for their best top-flight finish since 1959, when they finished ninth.

Blues came 10th in 2004 but will be guaranteed to finish ninth if they gain at least a point at the Reebok. Stoke and Blackburn can go level if Blues lose but Alex McLeish's men have a better goal difference heading into the final day.

The Blues were only promoted last season but a 12-match unbeaten run over Christmas - a top-flight record for the club - wiped out any fears of an immediate return to the Championship.

Last week's 2-1 home victory against Burnley ended a run of eight games without a win and McLeish will be determined to finish as high as possible with an extra £750,000 available for each Premier League place.

That would boost his summer transfer coffers, and Sunday's game offers a final chance to assess his current side before he aims to strengthen following this season's unexpected success.

Bolton won the reverse fixture at St Andrews, though, with South Korean midfielder Chung-Yong Lee giving the Trotters a 2-1 win in September.

Team-mates Jack Wilshere and Vladimir Weiss will play their last games on loan, with Slovakian winger Weiss looking to secure a World Cup call-up - likewise Birmingham's on-loan England keeper Joe Hart.

Team news

Midfielder Stuart Holden is hopeful of featuring for Bolton after recovering from a broken leg he suffered in March.

The United States international, who made just two appearances before suffering the injury on international duty, did not make the squad for last weekend's defeat at Tottenham but could be included after a week's full training.

Andy O'Brien (thigh) and Chris Basham (knee) could also be involved for the Trotters after injury.

Birmingham are boosted by the return of captain Stephen Carr, who missed last weekend's 2-1 win against Burnley through suspension.

The former Tottenham and Newcastle right-back had to serve a one-match ban after admitting improper conduct during the 1-0 derby defeat at Aston Villa.

Carr is set to take over from Stuart Parnaby in what is likely to be the only change to the side that started against Burnley.

Liam Ridgewell will continue in the centre of defence with Scott Dann (calf) again missing, while rookie midfielder Jordon Mutch is in the squad after returning from a loan spell at Doncaster.

Possible starting Xls:

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Knight, Cahill, Robinson, Weiss, Muamba, Taylor, Wilshere, K Davies, Klasnic.

Birmingham: Hart, Carr, Johnson, Vignal, Ridgewell, Bowyer, Ferguson, Larsson, McFadden, Benitez, Jerome.