Big Match Breakdown: Aston Villa v Bolton Wanderers - (2026)

Updated: 25/02/2026

Odds and preview for tonight’s game

The weekend’s Championship action kicks off tonight with a crunch match at Villa Park. Out-of-sorts pair Aston Villa and Bolton Wanderers are both in need of a big result.

New Villa boss Dean Smith is bidding to kick-start the new era following successive defeats. Meanwhile, the Trotters need a morale-boosting result after one point from five games.

Ahead of kick-off in the West Midlands, we’ve got the odds and info in the latest Big Match Breakdown.

Head-to-Head

The pair have met 163 times up to now, with the first ever clash coming way back in 1888. And there’s been little to separate them over history, with Villa winning 64 times to Bolton’s 60.

The North-West outfit have had the better of the fixture in recent times, though. Bolton have won four of the last six head-to-heads, including a 1-0 victory last time the sides faced off in March 2018.

Likely XIs

Villa have consistently gone with a back four this season, but it’s been harder to predict beyond that.

Smith seems to like a 4-1-4-1 at present, so Mile Jedinak could revive his holding-midfield role behind an attacking quartet including Jack Grealish and Conor Hourihane.

Bolton tend towards a 4-2-3-1 under boss Phil Parkinson. Josh Magennis has been their best performer this term. And he’s likely to lead the line again – ahead of an advanced midfield trio of Yanic Wildschut, Erhun Oztumer and Will Buckley.

Key Battles

The Trotters have struggled for goals of late, but Villa will still have to keep alert for the aerial threat of Magennis. A nightmare to mark on set-pieces, and a bustling presence in the box, Smith could be wise to adopt a man-marking approach.

However, this game could be won and lost in midfield. Bolton’s holding pair of Jason Lowe and Josh Vela face a very tough battle in keeping the technically gifted, sharp-shooting pair of Grealish and Hourihane quiet.

Match Odds

In the Match Betting, Villa are 4/9 for victory. Meanwhile, it’s 10/3 for the Draw, with a triumph for the Trotters out at 7/1.

Bolton have netted a single goal in their last five games, and there’s 3/4 for Both Teams to Score – No in this clash. Meanwhile, Villa to Win to Nil is a 13/10 shot.

Two of the visitors’ last four away games have ended in 2-0 defeats, and a 2-0 triumph for the hosts can be backed at 11/2.

In the Anytime Goalscorer market, Tammy Abraham at 23/20 tops the betting. Meanwhile, Jonathan Kodjia, who netted Villa’s winner at home to Bolton last season is 5/4.

If the visitors do get on the scoresheet, it’s likely to be via 14/5 shot Magennis. The Northern Ireland striker has netted four of their 11 league goals this term.

Click here for the latest Aston Villa v Bolton odds.

Big match previews, betting tips and transfer news – Coral has it all.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing

Original source: http://news.coral.co.uk/football/championship/big-match-breakdown-aston-villa-v-bolton-wanderers.html

Relevant news