Bolton vs Cardiff: Big Bet Preview

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Bolton Wanderers vs Cardiff City
(Sat 25 Oct, 12:30pm UK - Sky Sports +)

League One has thrown us a treat this week as table-toppers Cardiff make the trip to Bolton in Saturday’s early kick off. Two huge sides fighting for promotion out of the third tier, who will come out of this test on top in this weekend’s Big Bet?

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League One has been a fascinating watch this year with surprise packages at both ends of the table making a mockery of any ‘expert’ pre-season predictions.

Cardiff look like the only one of the relegated sides that fancy returning to the Championship and Bolton are hoping this fifth consecutive League One campaign will be the last in a string of nearly seasons that will see them finally return to the second tier after their relegation in 2019.

If Cardiff are going to get back at the first time of asking, continuing their momentum by beating the big sides is a must, and Bolton away would be a huge statement of intent from the Welsh club. Bolton are already four points behind the play-off positions and sixth-placed Lincoln have a game in hand over the Trotters, three points this weekend could be crucial in ensuring the top six don’t peel away from them and out of sight before they have time to catch up.

Form

Cardiff have the second best away record in the league this season and Bolton have the fourth best at home, safe to say it could go either way on the day. Cardiff are the second highest goal-scorers and have conceded the second fewest amount of goals so far, it will be a tough task for the home side to inflict a third league defeat of the campaign on the visitors based on their current form.

Both sides have won three and lost two from their last five, an uptick in form for the ever-drawing Bolton of earlier in the season and finally proof the seemingly invincible Cardiff can indeed be gotten at. This really is a hard one to call, and you could probably make a case for either side winning this game comfortably.

Head-to-head

This fixture hasn’t taken place since 2018, as Cardiff had remained a steady Championship side until this season as Bolton’s financial issues have condemned them to the third and fourth tiers. In fact, this fixture hasn’t been very common at all as looking back just eleven meetings ago takes you to 1990.

Still, over their last five matches their have been three Cardiff wins and two for Bolton with an average of three goals a game. If history is anything to go by, it should be a thrilling contest. These boys don’t do bore draws.

Key Battle

Amario Cozier-Duberry vs Rubin Colwill

Both of these attacking midfielders have been in scintillating form to start the season for their sides, and whoever turns up and struts their stuff on Saturday could be the difference maker in deciding this week’s Big Bet winner.

Cozier-Duberry arrived on loan at Bolton from Brighton in Summer with lots of promise and has not disappointed. He has 3 goals and 4 assists to his name in the league already, including a dramatic last-gasp winner at Huddersfield in their last outing. He is fast, dynamic, capable of beating his man and a threat from range, Cardiff will need to have a plan to deal with him or risk getting turned inside out by one of the best creators in the league. Brighton fans, you’ve got a player on your hands here, chuck him on the pile with the rest of your wonderkids.

Rubin Colwill and his younger brother Joel are living the dream. They both joined Cardiff at a young age, progressed through the ranks and are now playing week-in week-out alongside each other for their boyhood team and are both full Wales internationals. Rubin, now 23, is having the best season of his career as The Bluebirds’ talisman in League One. He has been dictating the pace of play and pulling the strings from the number 10 role behind the striker, notching 3 goals for himself and also laying on 3 for his teammates in the league so far. Everything good Cardiff do going forwards typically runs through Colwill at some point, and it will take a Herculean effort on Bolton’s part to stop him having an influence over this game.

The key issue with both of these players is if you focus too much attention on stopping the they have some incredibly talented teammates for this level that will revel in the space now afforded to them. Too little attention, and you risk getting torn apart by one of the best players in the division with fans stood around bewildered, asking - why did you not mark him? he’s their best player!

For the neutral, seeing both these boys in full-flow will make for captivating viewing and they’ll be a great showcase for the level of talent that now thrives in England’s third tier.

Preview

Another tight one in the Big Bet sure to split opinions. At first glance, top of the league Cardiff look like a safe bet every week as their imperious form continues, but Bolton have been on the rise in recent weeks and have the league’s top goalscorer Mason Burstow in their midst, so it’s anyone’s game.

The home factor is making me think Bolton might edge it, but Cardiff’s squad is so flush with quality it’s tricky to imagine them losing against anyone.

I don’t think there’s a clear winner at all, both teams have a lot of talent so whoever turns up on the day and works the hardest to create chances and subdue the better opposition players will take the three points.

Whichever way this swings, it’s a massive result for the victor that could be top of the highlight reel should they clinch promotion come May.

Tipple Difficulty Rating: 9/10