Wanderers where outfought and outplayed in the clash at the City of Manchester Stadium and will be hoping for an improvement as they take on Steve Bruce's battling Blues team.
Sam Allardyce could make changes from last weekend which means Mario Jardel could get a start for Bolton after being left out of the reserve team defeat by West Bromwich Albion in midweek. Ibrahim Ba who featured in that game may get a place on the bench having completed 90 minutes against Albion. Youri Djorkaeff is still struggling with a calf injury which has forced him to miss the last two games whilst there is also a doubt over midfielder Per Frandsen who has picked up a stomach injury in training. Meanwhile Wanderers duo Simon Charlton and Kevin Poole are included in the squad to face their former club.
Birmingham will be without midfielders Robbie Savage and Damien Johnson whilst there is also a serious doubt over striker Stern John who has a knee injury. Welsh international Savage has an achilles problem whilst former Blackburn Rovers winger Johnson has a hamstring injury. Aliou Cisse and Olivier Tebily are recalled to replace the injured duo whilst Northern Ireland keeper Maik Taylor returns from suspension to replace Ian Bennett in goal. Brum will be hoping to improve on their previous three results which have been a draw in the Birmingham derby against Aston Villa and two defeats, one in the league against Manchester United and one in the Carling Cup against Blackpool.
Last season Bolton recorded their biggest Premiership win of the season at home against the Blues with a 4-2 victory and have remained unbeaten at the Reebok Stadium since. However the Midlands side have kept the most clean sheets this season in the top flight whilst the Wanderers have only scored eight goals so far this season. The last 12 months have seen Steve Bruce build up the Blues side into a decent force so the Trotters will need to be at their best for the lunchtime clash.
KICK OFF: 12.30pm LIVE ON SKY SPORTS
PLAYED FOR BOTH
SIMON CHARLTON
TONY EVANS
PAUL FITZPATRICK
BOB HATTON
DAVID HOLDSWORTH
ALLAN JOHNSTON
ANDY KENNEDY
JIM MCDONAGH
TREVOR MORGAN
JAMIE POLLOCK
KEVIN POOLE
ISAIAH RANKIN
JOHN SHERIDAN
BRYAN SMALL
STUART STORER
GORDON TAYLOR
NEIL WHATMORE
FRANK WORTHINGTON