Town boss Mick McCarthy admits that he wasn’t expecting today’s opponents Bolton Wanderers to have another difficult start to a season. The Trotters, who began the last campaign similarly slowly following their relegation from the Premier League but eventually finished seventh, are currently fourth from bottom of the Championship on nine points without a home win.

Despite their under par form up to now, McCarthy believes Dougie Freedman’s side, who have drawn four and lost two of their six home games with their only league win having come away at Birmingham, are not to be underestimated.

“They’re always a threat because they’ve got such good players,” he said. “They’ve got a good squad. After I came in last year we were saying we were surprised where they were. You just don’t know the effect that being relegated from the Premier League has.

“But having achieved the results and almost getting into the play-offs, they looked like they’d got that stability and were going to kick on, so I am surprised this year.

“I’m surprised, but I won’t be taking them lightly because I think they’ve got [good players] and they’re a real threat. On any given day they could beat anybody with the squad they’ve got.”

He says he’s been impressed with them when he’s watched them this season: “I’ve actually seen a few of their games when we’ve been scouting our other opponents.

“There have been one or two games when how they haven’t won them has been beyond me, the chances that they’ve had and misses they’ve had. Then in other games they’ve just been fairly ordinary Championship games.

“We watched them against Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield Wednesday played really well against them.

“Nearly all our opposition we’ve watched them against Sheffield Wednesday, bizarrely enough. Most of them we’ve come away saying ‘How have they been beaten in that? How have they not yet won a game when they’ve played as well as they have?’.

“I think Bolton will be saying the same. You’re always just waiting for it to kick on. Just waiting for that win and to kick on. You’ve got to get it at some stage, then [it’s a case of] trying to get back to back ones.”

Photo: Action Images

Mr_Jingles added 08:46 - Oct 26 Over the years we've played these teams that should be doing better.....and normally get there season up and running. Hopefully not today !!
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JimmyJazz added 09:49 - Oct 26 yes, this feels similar to the away trips to Birmingham and Sheff Wed, so we'll dominate the first half and end with a 1-1 draw
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Jon_456 added 11:01 - Oct 26 I think this one has a draw written all over it which I'd normally take, but after failing to beat derby or sheff wed and not getting any points at home to burnley, I think it will be a poor result
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kalypso added 16:30 - Oct 26 this has 1-0 to bolton written all over it.
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