JOSH Cullen found himself a marked man at Bolton in September.

The City playmaker came in for some very close attention – too close at times – in a physical midfield battle.

Stuart McCall felt afterwards that he deserved more protection, while Phil Parkinson thought Cullen went to ground too easily.

Bolton skipper Jay Spearing was Cullen's shadow that day, earning an early yellow card for one boisterous challenge.

But Spearing will sit out tomorrow's rematch after picking up his tenth booking in the midweek win over Rochdale.

It was a trivial offence, booting the ball into the stand as Bolton celebrated their late goal, but will cost him for the clashes with City and Sheffield United.

Spearing's absence is a frustrating blow for Parkinson, who has seen his side lose two of the three games when the feisty Scouser has been previously missing.

But centre half Derik Osede is confident the third-placed Trotters are strong enough to cope.

He said: "It is going to be a big miss, not having Jay in the team. He is important, as the captain and the main leader in the team, but I have no doubt that we can still win games of football without him."

Spaniard Osede has credited Parkinson for changing the mood at Bolton after last year's relegation from the Championship.

He said: "When we go to play a game this season, everyone is involved – the staff, the players, the people at the training ground. Back then not everyone was thinking 100 per cent about the team."

Former City loanee Andrew Taylor is out with a hamstring injury and new signing Reece Wabara is not fit enough to start.

Parkinson said: "We have got players ready to come in. When we make changes, I quite enjoy watching them because you see people train so hard and wait for their opportunity, so when they get it they need to take it."