Wanderers return to home Sky Bet League Two action at the University of Bolton Stadium this evening, taking on Mansfield Town and looking to respond following last weekend’s disappointing defeat at the hands of Leyton Orient.
Pre-Match Quotes:
Ian Evatt: ‘It’ll be a tough game. Just because they’re manager-less doesn’t necessarily mean that’s a good thing because sometimes you get reactions from teams when that happens. They’ve got good players there’s no two ways about it – they’re big spenders in this division.
‘We have to concentrate on ourselves and do what we do well. We have to start the game better for one. When we start games well this season. We’ve had good performances and good results off the back of it. We have to make sure we start the game fast, start it better than we did on Saturday and give ourselves a platform to grow into the game. Hopefully then we can get the right result.’
Richard Cooper [Caretaker Manager]: ‘We’ve had to focus on how hard the players can work in the training leading up to the Bolton game, but we’ve also had to make sure that we get some messages and pictures into the training.
‘We’ve done some work with Bolton in mind, we’ve got into the players and we’re fully focused on Bolton.’
How to watch:
Wanderers supporters can watch the clash with Mansfield Town by purchasing an iFollow BWFC video match pass for just £10 you don’t have to miss a kick.
An iFollow BWFC video match pass will ensure supporters do not miss a minute of the action, with the entire match streamed through any compatible laptop, computer, tablet or mobile device in the United Kingdom.
Team News:
Nathan Delfouneso will be assessed ahead of tonight’s fixture and he could yet be involved despite being replaced early in the weekend’s defeat at Leyton Orient.
Tom White returned from injury at the weekend and could be pushing for a start, whilst Ian Evatt declared Lloyd Isgrove and Shaun Miller fit enough to be included in the matchday squad.
Gethin Jones is also closing in on a return to action and could well make the squad. In the Mansfield Town camp, Mal Benning and Corey O’Keeffe will be assessed ahead of the match following their return from self-isolation periods, whilst Ryan Sweeney will miss out following a positive test for COVID-19 last week.
Ollie Clarke and Joe Riley will be absent with the duo continuing their recoveries from respective calf and knee injuries.
Bookies Odds:
Bolton win: 13/8
Draw: 23/10
Mansfield win: 6/4
Correct as of 03/11/2020 (11.30am) on skybet.com
Form:
Wanderers go into this evening’s game on the back of a 4-0 defeat at Leyton Orient last weekend, yet still hoping to make it back-to-back home victories following last week’s 1-0 victory against Bradford City.
Prior to Saturday’s loss in East London, Ian Evatt’s men had lost just a single league fixture since a home defeat to Newport County in late September.
Mansfield are still without a league victory this season, although they picked up a point in a 1-1 home draw with Walsall last time out. Prior to that, again on their own patch, they were beaten 4-2 by Barrow and it was a result that ultimately cost Graham Coughlan his job.
Last time out:
The last time the two teams met was back in April 1993 in Division Two at Field Mill. The two teams drew 1-1 with Mark Seagraves on the scoresheet for Wanderers who were ultimately promoted with Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion.
Fortunes were vastly different for Mansfield who were relegated to Division Three with Preston North End, Wigan Athletic and Chester City. In the earlier fixture between the Wanderers and the Stags at Burnden Park the previous month, Bruce Rioch’s side won 2-1 with Andy Walker scoring a brace.
Match Officials:
Referee: Andy Haines
Assistant Referees: Matthew Smith and Joe Simpson
Fourth Official: Richard Bartlett