Bolton vs West Ham predictions: Championship tips and odds

Take a look at Harry Reynolds’ three selections for the Championship fixture on Tuesday between Bolton Wanderers and West Ham United

Bolton Wanderers are looking to avoid a fourth successive Championship defeat tonight, against a West Ham United team who have started to click into gear (kick-off, 8pm).

The Hammers have won two games on the bounce, scoring seven times in the process, and I think they will record another straightforward victory at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.

Read on to find my three football betting tips for tonight’s match, followed by analysis.

Bolton Wanderers vs West Ham United tips

HARRY REYNOLDS' TIPS

odds provided by

BOLTON vs WEST HAM | CHAMP | TUE 8 SEP | 20:00

West Ham -1 goal handicap @ 6/4

BOLTON vs WEST HAM | CHAMP | TUE 8 SEP | 20:00

Jarrod Bowen 2+ shots on target @ 6/4

BOLTON vs WEST HAM | CHAMP | TUE 8 SEP | 20:00

Arne Engels 2+ fouls won @ 17/20

Odds courtesy of Midnite. Correct at the time of publication and subject to change.

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Match details

What: Bolton Wanderers vs West Ham United, Championship
Where: Toughsheet Community Stadium
When: 8pm, Tuesday September 8
Watch: Sky Sports Football

Key stats

• Bolton have lost their last three games by a combined score of 8-2.
• West Ham have won back-to-back Championship games, netting seven goals.
• Jarrod Bowen has had 22 shots for West Ham this season, at least 11 more than any of his team-mates. He has had two efforts on target in his past two matches.
• Forty per cent of shots against Bolton have hit the target, giving them the joint-worst record for that metric in the division.
• Arne Engels has been fouled at least twice in three of his four West Ham matches. He was fouled six times in two Scottish Premiership games for Celtic before signing for the Hammers.

Another tough night awaits Bolton

A 2-1 win at home to Preston North End in their opening Championship match marked the perfect return to the second tier for Bolton, who won the League One play-offs last season. Things have taken a turn for the worse since then, however.

The Trotters have failed to win any of their next four fixtures, losing the last three consecutively, and they have also failed to score in three of those matches.

Those are not good signs ahead of the visit of West Ham United, who have started to hit their stride. An emphatic 4-2 home win against Wolves last week was followed by a 3-0 victory over Derby County, and they will be confident of securing a first away league win since early March.

It is difficult to argue with the bookies’ odds of 1/2 about a West Ham victory, although they make little appeal from a betting perspective. Instead, I think the 6/4 available for the Hammers to win by at least two goals offers plenty of value.

Bolton have shipped eight goals in their past three matches, which is no surprise considering only Derby (10.9) and Cardiff City (9.3) have a worse expected goals against (xGA) figure than their 9.1.

West Ham, on the other hand, have the best expected goals (xG) tally in the Championship with 10.9. Only Wolves (13) have scored more goals than the 11 Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have managed.

I am expecting a comfortable win for the visitors, who are just starting to find their groove following their Premier League relegation. They moved into the play-off places following Saturday’s win, and I think they will continue to climb the table tonight.

HARRY REYNOLDS' TIP

odds provided by

BOLTON vs WEST HAM | CHAMP | TUE 8 SEP | 20:00

West Ham -1 goal handicap @ 6/4

Shot-happy Bowen try his luck again

It is no surprise that Jarrod Bowen has made a quick start to the season. He shone as one of the most talented players in the Premier League, despite West Ham’s relegation, racking up nine goals and 11 assists.

I thought Bowen would decide to leave the London Stadium during the summer, especially after missing out on England’s World Cup squad, but he signed a new contract to remain with the club. 

That was a massive coup for the Hammers and Bowen has already started to repay them. with three goals and three assists in seven appearances in all competitions.

One statistic that stood out to me was the number of shots Bowen has taken in the Championship this season. The 29-year-old has had 22 attempts, at least double the number of any team-mate.

He will be disappointed that he has only hit the target with six of those, but there are signs that he is starting to find his range. The West Ham captain has had two attempts on target in each of his past two matches.

I think Bowen is overpriced to repeat the trick against Bolton tonight, who have been allowing 12 efforts on target per game this season. Forty per cent of the overall attempts against the Trotters hit the target, which is the joint-worst record in the Championship.

Punters can back Bowen to have at least two shots on target at odds of 6/4 with Midnite, which seem very fair to me.

HARRY REYNOLDS' TIP

odds provided by

BOLTON vs WEST HAM | CHAMP | TUE 8 SEP | 20:00

Jarrod Bowen 2+ shots on target @ 6/4

Engels a master at drawing fouls

Arne Engels has made a positive impact since signing for West Ham from Celtic during the summer. The Belgian moved to the capital for a reported £22million, a record fee for the Championship.

Engels recorded his first assist for the Hammers in the 4-2 win over Wolves last Wednesday. He has also been very adept at taking pressure off in midfield by drawing fouls.

Only Manor Solomon and Taty Castellanos (11) have been fouled more times than Engels’ eight this season, but both have played an extra game.

Engels has drawn at least two fouls in three of the four matches he has played in, so he looks a good bet to keep that run going at odds of 17/20.

Bolton have averaged 10.6 fouls per game in the Championship, which is only slightly behind Wolves’ 10.8. Having drawn two fouls against the latter, Engels may find himself in the firing line once again.

HARRY REYNOLDS' TIP

odds provided by

BOLTON vs WEST HAM | CHAMP | TUE 8 SEP | 20:00

Arne Engels 2+ fouls won @ 17/20

Bolton Wanderers vs West Ham odds

• Bolton Wanderers @ 19/5
• Draw @ 16/5
• West Ham @ 1/2

Odds courtesy of Midnite. Correct at the time of publication and subject to change.