Crvena Zvezda on a rescue mission

FK Crvena Zvezda are looking to salvage their UEFA Cup campaign as they seek their first Group F points against draw specialists Bolton Wanderers FC.

• Two games have brought Crvena Zvezda no points. They lost 3-2 at home against FC Bayern München in their opening fixture and then 3-0 away against an FC Aris Thessaloniki side coached by their former boss Dušan Bajević.

• However, wins in their final games against both Bolton and SC Braga would guarantee the Serbian side a place in the last 32.

• Bolton have drawn their home games against Braga and Aris 1-1 either side of a 2-2 draw against Bayern in Munich. A fourth draw might see them reach the next phase of the tournament, but they will be looking for a win. However, they have not won away in their last five European games.

• Both clubs have parted company with coaches since the start of the season. Milorad Kosanović resigned in the wake of the 3-0 defeat at Aris while Sammy Lee was replaced at Bolton following a poor start in the Premier League.

• Aleksandar Janković is the new man in charge at Crvena Zvezda. The 35-year-old spent much of his coaching career as assistant to Slavoljub Muslin at Crvena Zvezda, PFC Levski Sofia, FC Metalurh Donetsk, KSC Lokeren OV and FC Lokomotiv Moskva.

• The game against Bolton will be his first in Europe since taking over from Kosanović.

• New Bolton manager Gary Megson has led Bolton to draws in both of his UEFA Cup games since taking charge but made a major breakthrough in the Premier League on 24 November, leading his side to a 1-0 win against champions Manchester United FC.

• Bolton's Swedish midfielder Christian Wilhelmsson celebrates his 27th birthday on 8 December, two days after the game.

• The two sides have never met in UEFA club competition.

• Crvena Zvezda have played 15 games against English sides over the years, winning six, drawing five and losing four. Those defeats include a 1-0 loss against Manchester United FC in the 1991 UEFA Super Cup.

• Crvena Zvezda are yet to lose a European home match against an English side, recording five wins and two draws in their seven home games – including a 3-1 win against Leicester City FC which was played on neutral territory at the Gerhard Hanappi Stadium in Vienna due to concerns over the political climate in Belgrade.

• In only their second UEFA club competition campaign, Bolton have never played against a side from Serbia.