Bolton v. Sunderland: Hopefully Black Cats Mean Good Luck

With a very short yet very miserable road trip over, the Wanderers return to the Reebok on Saturday to face Sunderland. The Black Cats are one of those very hit-or-miss teams with Bolton Wanderers (then again, who isn't this season) but with just three matches left in the season, Bolton will look for as many points as possible in order to ensure a top-half finish.

Sunderland beat the Whites 1-0 on the road earlier this season thanks to a Danny Welbeck diving header. Bolton's away form (as we well know) has been dodgy at best but on the bright side, Owen Coyle has once again made the Reebok a fortress. For the first time in their history, Bolton have won five straight games at home and will look to make it six at the weekend.

It probably is no coincidence that Bolton's away form at Fulham and Blackburn (that is, not a single goal scored) coincided with an ankle knock picked up by Danny Sturridge. The Wanderers will receive a boost as the Chelsea loanee is set to make a return this weekend alongside Gretar Steinsson. Mark Davies is still suffering with his ankle injury and is expected to sit out once more.

Although Kevin Davies got off to a flying start this season, the skipper hasn't put a ball into the back of the net since New Year's Day against Liverpool. If that's not a scoring duck, I don't know what is. Both Matilda and I have noted on the @BoltonOffside twitter feed during matches the last few weeks that it seems as though Davies doesn't know what to do with the ball at his feet. There is no more dribbling from him, everything appears to be headed flick-on. The captain has to score and I'll put money on it being against Sunderland (I hope).

A win and an Everton loss (who face Manchester City at Goodison) can see Bolton leapfrog the Toffees and re-take seventh place in the Premier League. While that would be nice, some breathing room from ninth place Fulham who sit just a point behind us would be even better.

Come on you Wanderers!