The Toffees are renowned for end of season escapes from relegation but that isn’t even in the vocabulary of the Merseyside club, who are enjoying a renaissance period of under former Preston boss David Moyes. After years in the doldrums and living in the shadows of local rivals Liverpool, Everton are again being recognised as a quality side, nearly twenty years after the likes of Graham Sharp and Peter Reid conquered Europe.

Tomorrow is the first time the sides will have met this season and Bolton will be full of confidence following Thursday’s dramatic victory over Newcastle United, a side who have been playing in the second phase of the UEFA Champions League this season.

The Wanderers supporters still haven’t forgotten the way that they were cruelly denied a goal and victory by a refereeing decision against Everton early in the 1997/98 season which ultimately saw Bolton relegated, with ironically Everton being the side that stayed up. Bolton have yet to defeat Everton since that fateful decision on the Reebok Stadium’s opening match and Bolton’s fans are sure to be desperate for some ‘revenge’ after so many years.

Wanderers manager Sam Allardyce again has a few injury worries but he will have been impressed by how well the threadbare Bolton defence played against Newcastle despite three goals being conceded. Ivan Campo is likely to again be missing from the starting line up while French powerhouse defender Bruno N’Gotty is still out of action with a calf injury. In form striker Michael Ricketts is set to start the game, possibly up front alongside Dane Henrik Pedersen. Ricketts will be looking to build on his two goals against Newcastle following on from his vital equaliser away to West Ham the previous week. Other than that Allardyce hasn’t got any real selection problems.

For the home side, Joseph Yobo should be fit to return to the Everton line up while full back Tony Hibbert is doubtful with a thigh injury and centre back David Unsworth is suspended. Former Celtic defender Alan Stubbs should start against the club that gave him his first professional contract and really put him on the footballing map while Bolton were still playing at Burnden Park.

If Bolton win then they should pull further clear of the bottom three and put pressure on Aston Villa, the side above Bolton in the table. However, if the Wanderers lose they are sure to be dragged right back into the relegation quagmire.

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