Aston Villa vs Bolton Wanderers. Sky Bet Championship.
Villa ParkAttendance31,451.
Friday 29 September 2017 16:18, UK
Gabriel Agbonlahor could return to Aston Villa's squad for the Sky Bet Championship visit of Bolton.
The long-serving forward, who has not featured since September 9, is available again following a groin problem. Villa boss Steve Bruce has no fresh selection concerns as his side go in search of a fourth successive league victory.
Australia international Mile Jedinak (groin) remains sidelined, along with fellow midfielders Henri Lansbury (knee) and Jack Grealish (kidney) and winger Andre Green (hamstring).
Bottom club Bolton will be without suspended winger Filipe Morais but could be boosted by the return of up to four players. Portuguese Morais was sent off for two bookable offences in the first half of the midweek defeat at Bristol City.
Midfielder Jem Karacan is back from a one-game ban for the trip to Villa Park, while goalkeeper Ben Alnwick (neck), defender Stephen Darby and winger Will Buckley (both hamstring) could also be in contention for selection. Striker Adam Armstrong will hope to return to the Trotters' squad after boss Phil Parkinson opted to leave him out at Ashton Gate.
This is the first meeting between these sides outside the top-flight since March 1975 - they played out a 0-0 draw in the second tier.
Bolton have won on their last two visits to Villa Park, beating the Villans in the League Cup and Premier League in the 2011/12 campaign.
Steve Bruce has been victorious in nine of his last 11 home league games against Bolton (D1 L1).
Bolton are the only side yet to open the scoring in Championship games this season, conceding the first goal in nine of their 10 games (the other finished 0-0).
After a winless opening three games (D1 L2), Aston Villa are unbeaten in their last seven Championship games, winning four of those including each of the last three.
Bolton have only failed to win any of their opening 11 games to a Football League season once before - in the top-flight season of 1902-03 in which they were relegated.
This could be a messy one. Bolton are having a bit of a nightmare, it's too early to say they're doomed but it's never a good sign when you can't score and can't stop conceding.
They're also meeting Aston Villa on an upswing, it's amazing how quickly things can change, and I think they'll put a few past Phil Parkinson's side.
Prutton predicts: 3-0 (7/1 with Sky Bet)
