Victory for Portsmouth will give us our best ever start to a season since 1948/49, the season which we lifted the league trophy for the first time. As a bonus, if we keep a clean sheet against Sam Allardyce's men we will share a Premiership record with Chelsea in having kept six consecutive clean sheets in the top flight at the start of the season. But the main thing is that we win, but a game against Bolton is never easy.
Bolton are a strong, physical side and will look to stop us playing football, meaning this probably won't be a game for the purists. The good news for us is that Bolton have only scored one goal away from home this season, and even that was a penalty. Not only that but Bolton also have a terrible record at Fratton Park and are yet to record an away win in 2006.
The signs are initially good but Kevin Davies could return to action after suffering a fractured cheekbone whilst star man Kevin Nolan and summer target Tal Ben Haim should both start. Abdoulaye Faye and Quinton Fortune face late fitness tests as does Stelios who did a bit of diving in this fixture last season. Another summer transfer target in Nicholas Anelka should also line up against Pompey so I'm sure he'll be given a nice warm welcome to Fratton Park tommorow night.
Harry Redknapp will probably stick with the side that has served him so well in the league thus far although this might be the game where we could see Niko Kranjcar, Andy Cole and Manuel Fernandes for the first time as they are likely to take their place on the bench as they push for a first-team position. Should things not go right, then these three players could have a positive influence on the game.
I'm not expecting a classic encounter tommorow. Bolton's long ball game should be nullified by Linvoy and Sol which could work in our favour but then again their physical style of play could cancel out our natural passing game and our attacking play so this could be another one of those games where we have to grind out a win in a tough game and play ugly like we did against Wigan. 1-0 will do just nicely.
Will the dream continue or will Bolton spoil it in true party pooper style?
Premiership Past: Pompey vs Bolton Wanderers
03/04: Pompey 4 Bolton Wanderers 0
Prior to this game Sam Allardyce ran his mouth about how his side would show Pompey how tough life would be in the Premiership. How hilarious it was then, when a Steve Stone goal and a hat-trick from Teddy Sheringham completed a rout which made Big Sam feel a bit silly. How I'd love a repeat tommorow night!
04/05: Pompey 1 Bolton Wanderers 1
This was the final home game of this season and will mainly be remembered for giving El Hadji Diouf tons of abuse for his Llama impression on Arjan De Zeeuw earlier in the season. He responded by scoring and doing that irritating earcup celebration. Pompey would restore parity as Yakubu scored his last goal for the club as the ball bounced off his face from three yards out. The game petered out and Pompey fans ended up listening in on Southampton's game against Crystal Palace.
05/06: Pompey 1 Bolton Wanderers 1
Having just been pasted 5-0 by Birmingham, Pompey needed something from this game and didn't look like getting it after Stelios clearly went down easily in the box to gift Bolton a penalty. Fadiga replied by blasting it into the Fratton End and as a result, got a lot of abuse. Fadiga would have the last laugh as once again Stelios went down easily to "earn" Bolton a free kick in the channel. Fadiga whipped it in and Linvoy and Kiely got in each others way as the ball bounced into the corner of the net. Just when Pompey looked to have lost, Azar Karadas popped up with a late volley to score his only goal for the club and earn a precious point.
Pundit Watch
Lawro: Home Win (1-0)
Matt Le Tissier: Draw (1-1)
Soccernet: Home Win