By Mark Heys
August 31 2007

Bolton Wanderers hope to make it two Premiership wins in a week against Everton on Saturday afternoon as the Reebok Stadium officially celebrates it's tenth anniversairy as the home of the Wanderers.

Ironically, Everton where the first visitors to the new ground in 1997 so it should be fitting that the Toffees are the opposition on such a landmark occasion for the club.

Gary Speed was part of the Merseysiders midfield that day but things are different now as the Welshman lines up against his the club he supported as a boy.

Of those who played on that early September night ten years ago, only Speed, Robbie Elliott (Hartlepool United), Gerry Taggart (Tamworth), Alan Thompson (Leeds United), Andy Todd (Derby County), Gavin Ward (Chester City), John Oster (Reading), Nick Barmby (Hull City), Gareth Farrelly (Cork City), Paul Gerrard (Sheffield United) are still plying their trade.

For Elliott it proved to be a night to forget as his Bolton home debut ended in tragedy as he was strecthered off with a double fracture of his leg but another thing overshadowed the game when referee Steve Lodge disallowed a Gerry Taggart goal despite TV pictures revealing that the ball had crossed the goal line.

Bolton felt robbed that they had been denied a first win at their new home but referee Lodge tried to justify his decision when he claimed Bolton striker Nathan Blake had fouled his international team mate and Everton keeper Neville Southall.

A lot of water has passed under the bridge since then and hopefully tommorow's game will be an occasion to remember for all the right reasons. Everton gave Bolton a game of it in April and their visit to the stadium tommorow is likely to represent a similar tale.

The Wanderers manager Sammy Lee is still without injury victims Blerim Dzemaili, Stelios Giannakopoulos and Ricardo Vaz-Te but the likes of Ricardo Gardner, Kevin Davies and Joey O'Brien have recovered well following spells on the sidelines.

Norwegian Daniel Braaten will once again hope to be involved after his goal won the last game against Reading in what was his first appearance in front of the home support.

Fellow new signing Mikel Alonso also impressed against the Royals with a workman like display in the midfield and he will hope to keep his place for the game against David Moyes team.

Everton could give debuts to new signings Yakubu and Thomas Gravesen following their midweek moves from Middlesbrough and Celtic respectively. However Tim Cahill and James Vaughan remain on the sidelines for the time being.

Ex-Wanderer Alan Stubbs and veteran Lee Carsley are doubts for the game with muscle injuries.

LAST TIME WE MET

09/04/2007 BOLTON WANDERERS 1 (Davies) EVERTON 1 (Vaughan)

BOLTON: Jussi Jaaskelainen, Nicky Hunt, Abdoulaye Faye, Abdoulaye Meite, Ricardo Gardner, Andranik Teimourian, Ivan Campo, Gary Speed, El-Hadji Diouf, Kevin Davies, Nicolas Anelka

Subs Not Used: Idan Tal, Cesar Martin, Ian Walker

EVERTON: Tim Howard, Tony Hibbert, Alan Stubbs, Joseph Yobo, Joleon Lescott, Mikel Arteta, Lee Carsley, Phil Neville, Leon Osman, Andy Johnson, James Vaughan (James Beattie)

Subs Not Used: Gary Naysmith, James McFadden, Anderson Silva, Richard Wright

PLAYED FOR BOTH

Peter Beardsley, Brian Borrows, Martin Dobson, Gareth Farrelly, Albert Geldard, Asa Hartford, Glenn Keeley, Brian Kidd, Paul Lodge, Jim McDonagh, Neil McDonald, Ian Marshall, Gavin McCann, John O’Kane, Peter Reid, Gary Speed, Dennis Stevens, Alan Stubbs, Idan Tal, Mike Walsh

DID YOU KNOW?

Everton where Bolton's first opponents at Burnden Park as well as the Reebok Stadium

Current Wanderers player Gavin McCann began his career at Everton making 11 appearances in the 1997-1998 season. His team mates included Gary Speed and Gareth Farrelly.

The Toffees have won twice at the Reebok, the first came in the 2002-2003 season when two Steve Watson goals helped them to victory and the last success was two years ago when a Marcus Bent goal secured the points.