Thu Apr 21, 2016 4:34 pm
Cardiff City Vs Bolton Wanderers: Match Preview
Thursday April 21, 2016 Jamie Kemble
Date and Time: Saturday 23rd April (15.00)
Venue: Cardiff City Stadium
Referee: Lee Collins
Cardiff host relegated Bolton Wanderers as they look to keep their very slim chance of making the play-offs alive going into a clash with play-off rivals Sheffield Wednesday next weekend.
Russell Slade’s Bluebirds will look to bounce back from three games without a win against rock-bottom Bolton Wanderers who have entertained the most miserable of seasons. Cardiff are all-but out of the play-off race but a win against Bolton would mean it remains mathematically possible for the Bluebirds to achieve a top six finish.
A loss against Brentford last time out means Cardiff will have to make up six points from three games, making it an incredibly difficult task, although manager Russell Slade has asked supporters to carry on believing going into the last three games.
Bolton will hope they can wipe this season from their memory as quick as possible with troubles off the field almost sinking the club all together before former player Dean Holdsworth and his consortium rescued the club from the brink.
While the wanderers managed to stay afloat off the field, there was no such happy ending on the field with Bolton’s relegation being confirmed with five games remaining. The Wanderer’s are a massive 21 points from safety with three games remaining.
Neil Lennon was in charge of the former Premier League club for the majority of the season but the former Celtic boss walked away, leaving caretaker manager Jimmy Phillips to finish the season in charge.
Last time out, Bolton took a point from Charlton Athletic at the Macron Stadium to relegate the Addicks to League One along with themselves. The goalless draw means the teams set up a date for next season in the third tier.
When Cardiff travelled to the Macron Stadium earlier in the season, they come away with three points in a dramatic affair with five goals. Anthony Pilkington scored the winner in an entertaining the 3-2 win over the Wanderers in December.