By Mark Heys
October 26 2007

Gary Megson officially takes charge of his first Bolton Wanderers game this Sunday lunchtime and a win for the club against Aston Villa could lift them off the bottom of the Premier League table.

Megson was officially unveiled as Sammy Lee's successor on Thursday much to the disappointment of many of the Bolton supporters but the former West Bromwich Albion boss is hopeful that a win could help to build some bridges.

Bolton have won just one league game all season and defeat against Arsenal last weekend coupled with Derby County's draw against Fulham meant that the Wanderers had hit rock bottom in the top flight.

It was also an unhappy weekend for Villa last time out as they where thrashed convincingly at home to a Manchester United side inspired by England international Wayne Rooney.

The Wanderers have no fresh injury worries and Megson will be hopeful of being able to recall Swedish winger Christian Wilhelmsson after the Scandinavian missed the last couple of games owing to an ankle injury.

Ex-Aston Villa left back Jlloyd Samuel is also making good progress following a hamstring injury but the game against his former employers could come too soon for the defender.

Another former Villa star Gavin McCann will be hopeful of keeping his place in the Bolton side after starting the last couple of matches at the expense of the likes of Gary Speed and Kevin Nolan.

Villa are without the suspended Scott Carson and Nigel Reo-Coker following their dismissals against United, so manager Martin O'Neill must decide between Thomas Sorensen and Stuart Taylor to replace Carson in goal.

Veteran Patrik Berger is doubtful for the game with a hamstring strain and towering striker John Carew is expected to be out of contention with a knee injury.

Bolton's home record against Villa hasn't been the best in recent times so maybe against all odds Megson can pull a rabbit out of the hat that will kick start the Trotters season.

LAST TIME WE MET:

13/05/2007 BOLTON WANDERERS 2 (Speed, Davies) ASTON VILLA 2 (Gardner, Moore)

BOLTON: Jussi Jaaskelainen, Tal Ben-Haim, Lubomir Michalik, Abdoulaye Meite, Ricardo Gardner, Kevin Nolan, Ivan Campo, Abdoulaye Faye, Gary Speed (Ricardo Vaz-Te), Kevin Davies, Nicolas Anelka (Idan Tal)

SUBS NOT USED: Andranik Teimourian, James Sinclair, Ali Al-Habsi (GK)

VILLA: Thomas Sorensen (Stuart Taylor), Aaron Hughes, Olof Mellberg, Martin Laursen, Wilfred Bouma (Steven Davis), Ashley Young, Craig Gardner, Gareth Barry, Patrik Berger (Luke Moore), Gabriel Agbonlahor, John Carew

SUBS NOT USED: Gavin McCann, Gary Cahill

PLAYED FOR BOTH:

Franz Carr, Neil Cox, Sasa Curcic, Gareth Farrelly, Stuart Gray, John Gregory, Gavin McCann, Kevin Poole, Jlloyd Samuel, Bryan Small, Alan Thompson

DID YOU KNOW?:

Goalkeeper Andy Oakes made his only Bolton appearance when facing Villa three years ago. Oakes, on-loan from Derby County, replaced the suspended Jussi Jaaskelainen but it wasn't a happy debut as German Thomas Hitzlsperger scored in the last minute to give Villa a 2-1 win.

Current Wanderers players Gavin McCann and Jlloyd Samuel both faced the club whilst playing for Villa in the 2004 Carling Cup Semi Finals. In the second leg McCann was sent off and Samuel scored the winning goal.

Bolton last beat Villa in the league at the Reebok Stadium in September 2002 when a Michael Ricketts penalty gave them a 1-0 success.