With Wanderers back on their travels as they make the trip to Burton Albion for their penultimate game of the season this weekend, bwfc.co.uk highlights five talking points ahead of Saturday’s Sky Bet Championship clash at the Pirelli Stadium.
1. Season-defining
The fight at the bottom of the Sky Bet Championship continues into the penultimate weekend of the season with the drop facing two more teams after Sunderland's relegation to the third tier was confirmed last weekend.
Barnsley’s defeat at Nottingham Forest during the week means that Wanderers’ fate is ultimately back in their own hands.
Should Phil Parkinson’s men win at the Pirelli Stadium this weekend and Barnsley fail to beat Brentford at Oakwell, the Whites will be safe from the drop with Barnsley and Burton both relegated. There is a job to be done!
2. Final away day
Saturday's trip to the Pirelli Stadium on Saturday afternoon sees Bolton play their final away game of the 2017/18 Sky Bet Championship season.
Having been held to an enthralling 2-2 draw against Barnsley at Oakwell in the last away fixture, the Trotters will be hoping to end a run on the road which has seen just one win in the last nine (v Sheffield United at Bramall Lane in late December).
With Wanderers memories looking back to last term's spring victory over Port Vale, Phil Parkinson's men will be looking to recreate last year's campaign finale with points vitally important at this latter stage of the season.
3. Maiden trip to the Pirelli Stadium
Saturday's game marks the Whites' first ever visit to the Pirelli Stadium, having only played Burton Albion twice before in the club's history.
With a potential three points vital to both sides as they look to secure their place in the Sky Bet Championship for next season, Bolton will be hungry to ensure their first away clash with the Brewers proves to be a successful one!
4. Revenge!
Aside from the obvious reasons to try and get what could be a decisive victory this weekend, the Trotters will be looking to avenge the Brewers after they picked up a narrow victory at the Macron Stadium back in December.
Lloyd Dyer’s first half goal proved enough to give the visitors the three points on that afternoon, despite Wanderers dominating the majority of the game.
Having also suffered a late 1-0 defeat when the two sides met at BL6 in the League Cup in August 2015, the Whites are due both goals and a win against Nigel Clough's side.
5. Big away following!
The importance of the travelling Bolton army goes without saying this weekend.
With the away allocation at the Pirelli Stadium limited due to the low capacity of the stadium, tickets for Saturday's encounter have sold incredibly fast and Phil Parkinson’s side will be backed by a sold out away end of just over 1,500 supporters!
With the Trotters' travelling support being at its finest as they clock up the miles over the course of the season, and with the game potentially decisive to the Trotters' eventual final league position, Wanderers supporters will once again be in full voice and could well make the difference in what will be a crucial afternoon of football.