Blackburn vs Bolton Betting Tips

Both sides are still without a win this season and sit next to each other in the relegation zone. However it is still very early days and a win for either could propel them into the top half of the league with the rest of the division in action over the weekend.

This is likely to be a nervy affair though given both teams are low on confidence in addition to the increased pressure that a local derby brings. Bolton hadn’t even scored a goal this season until Stephen Dobbie smashed in a 90th minute equaliser at home to Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

Away from home they are likely to be fairly cautious and that could result in a low scoring game against a Blackburn side that look far less dangerous this season without the talents of Josh King and Rudy Gestede. There has been 2 or fewer goals in all of Blackburn’s last 3 matches and all but one of Bolton’s fixtures this season. That game was a 3-0 defeat at highly fancied Middlesbrough and it’s unlikely that Blackburn are going to break down what is a fairly well organised Bolton defence with as much ease.

Therefore there seems to be real value at 17/20 in backing there to be Under 2.5 Goals in this game. Wanderers visited Ewood Park as recently as March in what was a very cagey game that was ultimately settled by a solitary goal in stoppage time from Blackburn’s Jordan Rhodes.

The prolific Scot hasn’t featured in Rovers’ last two games due to injury problems while transfer speculation continues to surround him. He could return here but is unlikely to be at 100% which will be of relief to Bolton and only supports the view that there won’t be many goals in this one.

Blackburn have a good recent record at home to Bolton but look weaker this season while Bolton will at least have been buoyed by their first goal of the season on Saturday. Neil Lennon’s side were expected to do better than last term and should be capable of getting a result here.

It is hard to see them scoring more than once though as they have looked so toothless in the final third so far this season therefore a 1-1 draw looks a likely correct scoreline at 11/2 against a Rovers side that has scored in all but one of their five matches this term even if they are yet to win.