Bolton boss Steven Schumacher refused to criticise his players after they suffered a fourth successive Championship defeat in midweek.
The Trotters lost 3-2 to a West Ham side who were climbing to the summit of the Championship standings.
Schumacher insists his side are playing extremely well, adding that they had not "deserved to lose any of the four games that we have done" but conceding they are now playing in a higher grade where the margins are tighter between success and failure.
For Cardiff, three places and 16 points better off than Bolton in League One last season, it has also been a hard start. The Bluebirds are one of only two clubs still seeking a first league win in the second tier.
Bolton Wanderers v Cardiff City Tips Summary
Best Bet - Bolton to win & both teams to score @ 3/1
Alternative Bet - Over 3.5 goals @ 6/4
Bet Builder - Both teams to score, Samuel Iling-Junior 2+ shots & Yousef Salech 2+ shots on target @ 11/2
Bolton Wanderers v Cardiff City Prediction
Best Bet: Bolton to win & both teams to score @ 3/1
Home advantage has been a telling factor in recent meetings between Bolton and Cardiff, with the hosts collecting maximum points in each of the last five league meetings.
Wanderers are tipped to extend that sequence to six but the Trotters may not have things all their own way.
They impressed in the midweek defeat to West Ham, coming from behind to lead 2-1 before ultimately losing as a mistake from debutant Gavin Bazunu cost them.
The Republic of Ireland international keeper could be forgiven his handling error following a downpour mid-game.
Aston Villa loanee Samuel Iling-Junior and Ethan Erhahon were amongst the better performers in midweek and Bolton will be relishing facing a winless side, having tackled promotion contenders Sheffield United, Millwall and the Hammers recently.
The Millwall game aside, they have been competitive.
Cardiff have leaked 14 goals in eight games and are without a clean sheet. Brian Barry-Murphy's side let slip a good opportunity in midweek and more misery could be incoming.
Alternative Bet: Over 3.5 goals @ 6/4
Goals are likely at the Toughsheet Community Stadium. Both teams have scored in five of Cardiff's six Championship games and each of Bolton's last three games has featured four or more goals.
City's midweek draw saw them score just once despite an xG figure of 3.61 and 26 shots at goal.
They have already been involved in a pair of 2-2 draws in the Championship in the early knockings of the season and a high-scoring contest is forecast again now.
Bolton Wanderers v Cardiff City Bet Builder Tip
Both teams to score
Samuel Iling-Junior 2+ shots
Yousef Salech 2+ shots on target
Pays 11/2
Both teams to score has been a winning bet in seven of Cardiff's eight league and cup games this season and in three of Bolton's six Championship outings.
If as expected this is an open contest, it is worth including an attacker from each side in this bet builder.
Iling-Junior joined the Trotters on a season-long loan from Villa and the 22-year-old is excelling. He gained experience in Serie A last season at Pisa and suggested Bolton represented the next step for him.
He has had at least two shots in two of his last three games and looked a menace against West Ham.
Yousef Salech scored four in four league and cup games for Cardiff last month, but has now gone four without a goal.
The Danish forward can point to eight shots on target in his last five games and should get opportunities to fire at goal against a home defence that has been breached 10 times in three games.
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Key Match Stats
Cardiff were runners-up in League One last season, 16 points ahead of Bolton in fifth before the Trotters won the play-offs
Each of the last five league meetings between these clubs has been won by the home side
Bolton have won four of the last five home league meetings against Cardiff (L1)
Just one team has scored in seven of the last nine league and cup meetings of these clubs
Bolton have lost four successive Championship games
Cardiff have drawn four and lost two of their six games back in the second tier, scoring in all but one
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
