Friday night’s offering from the Championship sees struggling Derby County welcome Bolton Wanderers to Pride Park with the Rams hoping to find a performance that can turn their season around.
Pressure is beginning to build on Derby boss John Eustace, with his side sitting second bottom of the Championship and already seven points adrift of safety.
The Rams have failed to win any of their last 10 league games and Tuesday’s 4-0 capitulation at home to Norwich City has supporters already fearing the worst.
With confidence low, another tough test awaits against a Bolton side who have made a solid start in the Championship following last season’s promotion.
Wanderers secured a hard-fought 1-0 win at Charlton Athletic on Tuesday evening, providing the perfect response to successive defeats to Bristol City and Middlesbrough.
Derby County v Bolton Wanderers Tips Summary
Best Bet - Bolton draw no bet @ 5/6
Alternative Bet - Sam Dalby anytime goalscorer @ 2/1
Bet Builder - Bolton or draw double chance, Bobby Clark 1+ shots on target & Josh Sheehan to be booked @ 19/2
Derby County v Bolton Wanderers Prediction
Best Bet: Bolton draw no bet @ 1/1
Not only are Derby winless in 10, having lost seven of those matches, but it is the manner of their defeats which will concern supporters most.
The Rams were beaten 4-1 at Millwall last weekend, going three goals down inside 17 minutes, while they were three behind at half-time in Tuesday’s 4-0 loss at home to Norwich.
That means Eustace’s side have leaked 14 goals across their last five league matches while they are the Championship’s joint-lowest scorers with only 11 goals scored in 14 outings.
There may be no such thing as home advantage for Derby right now given their lack of belief and they are easy to oppose as favourites against visiting Bolton.
Wanderers have been pretty productive on their travels of late, taking 10 points from their last four away games, registering wins at Norwich, Wolves and Charlton during that run.
Alternative Bet: Sam Dalby anytime goalscorer @ 2/1
Bolton striker Sam Dalby has taken the jump up from League One to the Championship in his stride, with his 14 league appearances featuring six goals.
But it is in recent weeks that Dalby has seriously found his form, scoring in four of his last seven games which includes the winner in Tuesday’s 1-0 victory at Charlton.
The 26-year-old has had 20 shots in 14 outings and has hit the target with 10 of those efforts to further underline his quality.
Derby are low on confidence and leaking goals, so Dalby may be primed to pounce.
Derby County v Bolton Wanderers Bet Builder Tip
Bolton or draw double chance
Bobby Clark 1+ shots on target
Josh Sheehan to be booked
Pays 19/2
With Derby having failed to win a Championship fixture since a 2-0 success at Portsmouth on the opening day of September, it would be disappointing were Bolton not to claim another positive result.
One of the few shining lights for Derby so far this season has been the promise shown by the versatile Bobby Clark, who has nine shots on target in 14 league appearances.
Bolton’s Josh Sheehan may have to do the dirty work in midfield and he has committed 18 fouls in 14 league games, resulting in three yellows and a red.
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Key Match Stats
Derby are without a win in 10 Championship matches
The Rams have lost seven of their last nine home games
Bolton have taken 10 points from their last four away fixtures
Both teams have scored in six of Derby’s last eight games
Eight of Bolton’s last 11 matches have gone over 2.5 goals
Derby have won their last six meetings at home to Bolton
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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.
