Wanderers play their first home fixture of the 2018/19 Sky Bet Championship season on Saturday and Bristol City are the visitors to the University of Bolton Stadium. Five talking points were picked out by bwfc.co.uk ahead of the encounter.
1. First home game
After conquering one of the league’s promotion favourites in West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns last weekend, Phil Parkinson’s men are back on their own patch to take on Bristol City tomorrow afternoon.
Wanderers’ home form ultimately played a massive part in the retention of their Sky Bet Championship status last season, including a final day victory against Nottingham Forest in May that will go down in folklore. Football returns to the University of Bolton Stadium!
2. Wanderers to continue unbeaten home run v Bristol City?
Bristol City are yet to win at the University of Bolton Stadium in four attempts since the stadium was opened back in 1997. Last season’s clash saw Sammy Ameobi’s stunning strike separate the two teams with the previous encounter (November 2015) a goalless draw.
In October 2012, Wanderers came from two goals down to win 3-2, with Chris Eagles, Jay Spearing and Martin Petrov on the scoresheet. City’s first ever visit to the University of Bolton Stadium saw them beaten 1-0, with Eidur Gudjohnsen’s early goal proving the difference back in April 1999.
3. Back to back wins
Not many people will have expected Wanderers to get off to a winning start at West Bromwich Albion last weekend, but Phil Parkinson’s now have the opportunity to register back-to-back victories.
It’s been a positive start to the new campaign with the team putting in a fantastic performance in the season opener, but Wanderers will be hoping to earn successive victories for the first time since New Year’s Day, when a home victory against Hull City followed on from a win against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.
4. New look matchday programme
With a new season, comes a new programme and a fresh new look is on show for the supporters looking to purchase issue number one of the 2018/19 season tomorrow.
The cover star of ‘The Wanderers’ is summer signing Erhun Oztumer, with the Turkish plamaker also the subject in a feature length interview inside the programme.
Other features include David Wheater’s Matchday Playlist which sees the Wanderers captain choose five of his favourite songs and ‘Stranded’ with Andrew Taylor picking things he’d find useful if he was stranded on a desert-island.
Read what Phil Parkinson and Ken Anderson have to say ahead of the fixture, and also get the low-down on tomorrow’s opposition, Bristol City. Sellers are located inside and around the University of Bolton Stadium tomorrow, so pick up your exclusive content-filled copy for just £3.
5. Electric atmosphere
2,500 Wanderers fans made the trip to The Hawthorns last weekend to cheer their team to three points and the impact they had was noted by Phil Parkinson in his post-match press duties.
Ahead of tomorrow’s fixture, he said: ‘At Bolton, everyone has got to play their part and everyone has to pull together for us to win a game of football. Supporters coming to the ground tomorrow, be ready to give the team 100% backing because the team will be doing absolutely everything they can tomorrow to get the win.’
Fingers crossed for an electric atmosphere inside the University of Bolton Stadium tomorrow.