25/03/2010 08:31 - ManUtd.com, Ben Hibbs
Match Pack: Bolton
With Chelsea and Arsenal potentially moving ahead of the Reds in their 3 o'clock kick-offs on Saturday, United must keep up the pace in the tea-time start at Bolton...
Form guide: Bolton are now pretty much safe from relegation, and look much more steady under Owen Coyle. Their form overall remains a little erratic. Their last four games have yielded a 2-1 win at West Ham, a 4-0 loss at Sunderland, a 4-0 win against Wigan, and a 2-0 defeat to Everton. But at home they have proved very difficult to beat this year. United, on the other hand, have lost just once in the last 13 in all competitions, scoring 35 goals.
Ins and outs: Wayne Rooney apparently hobbled away from OT on Sunday with a reported knee injury, but he should be fit to play - although could this be a game that Sir Alex decides to rest him, with Chelsea and Bayern Munich ties to follow? The Reds are without long-term absentees Wes Brown (metatarsal), Michael Owen (hamstring), Anderson (knee ligament) and John O'Shea (thigh), while Owen Hargreaves continues his gradual rehabilitation from double knee surgery. Bolton are without Chris Basham (knee), Gavin McCann (ankle), Sean Davis (ankle), Joey O'Brien (knee), but otherwise Owen Coyle can select from a full squad.
Star men: Kevin Davies is always a handful, while Chung-yong Lee and Jack Wilshere are technically gifted, but Jussi Jaaskelainen is likely to be the key man in their attempts to keep the Reds out.
Manager: Owen Coyle (did you know his middle name is Columba?) has steered Bolton into a safe position in the league. He's got the Trotters organised in defence and playing some decent football at times. He's also made the Reebok Stadium a fortress, losing only once there in his reign - his first game in charge, a 2-0 defeat to Arsenal. "We are in terrific form at the Reebok and if we show our spirit and desire and our undoubted quality, then that will serve us well," he says.
Referee: Martin Atkinson was the man in the middle for United's 4-3 derby win over City back in September, and he took charge of the Reds' 1-0 defeat to Chelsea in November. The West Yorkshire official last refereed one of our games in the 1-0 loss to Aston Villa at OT in December.
Rivals watch: Chelsea v Aston Villa; Birmingham v Arsenal (both Saturday 22:00 WIB).