bwfc.co.uk previews Wanderers’ upcoming trip to Glanford Park
Unbeaten from their last nine outings, Wanderers travel to fellow top-six challengers Scunthorpe United on Saturday. As the Whites continue to challenge for automatic promotion, bwfc.co.uk highlights five talking points ahead of Bolton’s trip to Glanford Park.
1. 50 games
This weekend will see Phil Parkinson take charge of his fiftieth game in charge of Bolton Wanderers.
Taking to the dugout for the first time as Whites manager on 6 August as the Whites overcame Sheffield United, since then the former Bradford City manager has led Bolton to second in the table.
With a lot of happy memories already made under Parky, Trotters fans will be hoping for plenty more in the future, starting at Glanford Park.
2. Eager Beevers
If Mark Beevers scores on Saturday, he will become the first Wanderers player to score in six successive away games for 67 years.
The last player to achieve this was Willie Moir in the 1950-51 season as the former Scotland international scored against Tottenham Hotspur, Wolves, Aston Villa, Liverpool, Everton and Huddersfield Town.
With the defender having already found the net against Fleetwood Town, Gillingham, Oxford United, Shrewsbury Town and Southend United in recent weeks, another goal this weekend would go down a treat!
3. Life on the road
Beevers' strikes in each of the aforementioned outings have helped Bolton claim maximum points on the road in each of their last five away games.
With Fleetwood, Oxford and Southend also challenging for promotion, the Trotters are finding form when it matters against some of the division's toughest sides.
And with another top-six contender in the shape of Scunthorpe United standing in their way on Saturday, Wanderers will be hungry to ensure history repeats itself as they look to maintain their recent form.
4. Options upfront
Having lost Gary Madine to injury in midweek, the Whites will be calling upon their strength in depth in attack as they prepare to make the trip to Lincolnshire.
Midfielder Josh Vela is Bolton's leading goalscorer so far this season with ten goals to his name, while central defenders Beevers and David Wheater have both popped up with seven strikes apiece.
Elsewhere, forward Adam Le Fondre has netted five goals from just 12 starts since his return to Macron Stadium on loan back in January.
But with the Trotters currently finding form in a 3-5-2 formation, Parkinson will have a decision to make regarding who partners ALF in attack.
Max Clayton and Chris Long will both be competing for a place in Wanderers' starting XI having been limited to substitute appearances in recent weeks.
And with both proving themselves as useful options from the bench, whoever is given the nod will be keen to make their mark from the start at Glanford Park.
5. Unbeaten Run
Having returned to winning ways against Southend United in midweek, the Whites are currently amidst a nine-game unbeaten run in Sky Bet League One.
Winning six and drawing three of those matches, Bolton have also scored 19 goals during that period.
Having also won all of their previous five matches on their travels, Parkinson’s men will be eager to make that six come full-time tomorrow afternoon.