Preview: City v Bolton

Bolton's visit to Eastlands tomorrow night gives Berto and the boys a great chance of making up for a spineless showing at Hull on the weekend. Eighteen home games unbeaten versus no away win in eight. It's a banker, right, right? Hmmm...

New Trotters boss Owen Coyle has mounting injury concerns and may struggle to field an experienced eleven at all. The biggest blow will have come with the news that England World Cup possible, not to mention top goalscorer Gary Cahill will miss the rest of the season with a blood clot in his arm. Good luck to him on his road to recovery. As much as Bolton's defence have gone backwards this season he's proved a great acquisition.

The man who grabbed the other goals during the 3-3 draw at the Reebok earlier in the season, on-loan German forward Ivan Klasnic also misses out with a calf strain. Gavin McCann is recovering from ankle surgery, Vlad Weiss is unavailable due to the terms of his loan deal, and midfielders Sean Davis and Joey O'Brien are still out long-term with serious knee injuries.

Right-back Gretar Steinsson missed the goalless draw with Fulham due to a virus, but manager Coyle expects him to return to an already depleted defence. Former Newcastle centre-half Andy O'Brien is likely to play through the pain barrier after a knock to his calf, though i was quite looking forward to seeing Danny Shittu get a run out! Fabrice Muamba and Stuart Holden are both rated doubtful.

From what i've seen of Bolton so far they've already improved under Coyle. He'll get them playing, i'm sure of that, but whilst sticking with a 4-5-1 to me they've already looked more assured on the ball, if still shaky at the back. During their recent fruitless trips to Arsenal and Liverpool they started brightly, going two goals up at the Emirates and having chances at Anfield.

Kevin Davies will obviously continue to be key to how Bolton play, and he's had his fair share of luck against us over the years. Midfielders Cohen, Lee and Mark Davies can all play a bit, though, the latter especially, a bargain buy from Wolves a year ago, has taken to the Premier League like a duck to water, and such canny acquisitions perhaps prove that former boss Gary Megson wasn't quite as clueless as made out.

I expect Roberto to ring the changes after a very disappointing afternoon's work at Hull on Saturday. Most at threat, i'd imagine, might be Pablo Zabaleta; who had his poorest game in a City shirt, Dedryck Boyaya; who struggled against Altidore but who has generally impressed, and Stevie Ireland, who has never really be able to get back to his best this season after a combination of injuries.

The only player who really impressed at the KC was new signing Adam Johnson. I expect him to get his first start, a decision made easier by the news that Craig Bellamy will play no part. Another likely to make his full debut is Pat Vieira as Mancini looks to stamp his mark on the side. Nigel de Jong or Gareth Barry could make way. Roque Santa Cruz & Joleon Lescott have outside chances of places on the bench. Vince Kompany's groin injury isn't as bad as first feared, but he too might have to make do with a sub role.

Tomorrow's a huge game for us, in my opinion. The four fixtures post Tuesday will all be extremely tricky, starting with a probably uncomfortable trip to Stoke, then games against three clubs either already established in or circling around the top four; Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham. We should fancy our chances against anyone at home, but Liverpool are hitting form, Spurs a real bogey side of ours, and the trip to Chelsea's perhaps the only fixture we now half write off.

Three points against a struggling side at home is absolutely vital. Fail to win this one and suddenly people will be reminding us that it's only one in four, whereas if we can see them off, another round of favourable fixtures, including Liverpool and Villa both playing sides in the top three, could see us edge clear, if only by the slightest of margins, and still with games in hand.

At the risk of looking like a plank should we put on a show, i've a feeling tomorrow might be a flat and uninspiring affair, and not as straightforward as some might see it. An early goal would settle the nerves, but we've looked at our best with Tevez and Bellamy in tandem, using our pace on the break. Without Craig there's always the danger we'll lack that thrust, and with new signings having to bed in, the defence still looking off, and Emmanuel Adebayor bagging the odd goal but often posing little threat, the Welshman could be a big loss.

Possible teams:
City: Given, Onuoha, Bridge, Richards, Toure, de Jong, Wright-Phillips, Vieira, Tevez, Adebayor, A.Johnson

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Ricketts, O'Brien, Knight, Muamba, Cohen, M.Davies, Lee, K.Davies, Taylor

Prediction: City 1 Bolton 0