Bolton Wanderers vs Aston Villa; Sky Bet Championship
Bolton Wanderers vs Aston Villa. Sky Bet Championship.
Toughsheet Community StadiumAttendance17,344.
Bolton vs Aston Villa preview
Thursday 18 April 2019 17:55, UK
Bolton are likely to have an unchanged squad for their home game against in-form Aston Villa.
It is expected that Jack Hobbs (back) and Luke Murphy (calf) will still be unavailable, while Jason Lowe and Yanic Wildschut (both ankle) definitely remain sidelined. Marc Wilson, Craig Noone and Josh Magennis are available for recalls should Wanderers boss Phil Parkinson wish to make changes to his team.
Bolton, who on Wednesday announced that the sale of the club has been agreed with Laurence Bassini, will be relegated from the Championship should they lose.
Villa, who have propelled themselves into the play-off places after eight straight wins, will have Tammy Abraham and Jack Grealish fit for the trip. Abraham came off against Bristol City with a tight hamstring while Grealish was absent for the Robins clash due to illness.
Fellow attacker Jonathan Kodjia (rib) is unlikely to return but he is expected to be available for the home game against Millwall on Monday. Kortney Hause continues his recovery from a hip problem and the defender should resume training next week.
Opta stats
Bolton are looking to win consecutive home league games against Aston Villa for the first time since September 2002.
Aston Villa haven't completed a league double over Bolton Wanderers since the 2009-10 campaign.
Bolton are winless in their last eight league matches played on Good Friday (W0 D3 L5) since a 1-0 win at Leyton Orient in April 1963.
This is Aston Villa's first league match on Good Friday since April 1999, when they drew 0-0 at home to West Ham United.
If Bolton lose this match, they will break their record for most league defeats in a single season (26 so far this season and 26 in 2015-16).
Aston Villa manager Dean Smith has never lost a league game on Good Friday (W1 D4 L0).
Prutton's prediction
Bolton could end a miserable campaign by getting relegated in front of their own fans on Friday, and with all the off-field problems you really worry for the club once the inevitable happens.
Aston Villa got a huge weight off their shoulders by winning a game without Jack Grealish last weekend, but they will desperately still need him for the run-in. With or without him, this should be a straightforward win.
David Prutton predicts: 0-3 (8/1 with Sky Bet)