It’s third v fourth at the Mazuma Stadium on Saturday as the race for automatic promotion heats up on the Lancashire coast.
Wanderers have a one-point advantage going into the Sky Bet League Two encounter knowing that a victory will put them four points ahead of their nearest rivals with only two games of the season remaining.
Pre-match quotes:
Ian Evatt: “They’re on a really good run but we’re on a good run as well. Bring it on is what I say! It’s two good teams used to winning football matches now but we’re confident just as we are going into every game.
“Arguably it’s a bigger game for them because they have to win. But having said that we don’t go anywhere to draw, we’ll be doing our best to win the game and I think we can hurt them with the players we’ve got.
“With the way both teams play I think we will control possession and they will try to hurt us on the counter-attack and from set-pieces. They need to win so they might be a bit more expansive than usual.”
Derek Adams: “We have three games to go and it’s a big game for both clubs.
“Whichever team wins the game has a very good opportunity of finishing in the automatic promotion places.
"I would say that Cambridge and Cheltenham are probably up and there’s one (automatic) place up for grabs.
“Nobody’s surprised where Bolton are, anybody looking from outwith would have suspected at the start of the season that they would be where they are.
“However, you look at Southend who look like they are going out of the league and, last year, they were in League One so that shows how difficult a division it is.”
How to Watch:
Wanderers’ supporters can watch the game against Morecambe 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:
Wanderers captain Antoni Sarcevic is set to return to the squad after recovering from a hamstring injury sustained last month during the victory against Port Vale.
With three games of the season remaining it could prove to be a timely boost for the influential midfielder.
Declan John suffered a knock to the knee during the midweek victory over Carlisle United and Ian Evatt will leave it late before making a decision on the Welshman.
Form:
The victory against Carlisle United in midweek ensured that Wanderers’ fate still remains firmly within their own grasp as they face an in-form Morecambe side.
The hosts have won their last three matches which have seen them score 11 and concede three goals.
Last Time Out
Eoin Doyle’s 11th goal of the campaign looked to have put Bolton Wanderers on course for a comfortable victory against the Shrimps.
But a red card for debutant Marcus Maddison 12 minutes after coming on to replace Arthur Gnahoua changed the flow of the game and allowed the visitors to grab an undeserved equaliser through Brad Lyons.
Frustratingly, days after the game, Maddison’s dismissal was overturned.
Match Officials:
Referee: Carl Boyeson
Assistants: Paul Newhouse and Bradley Hall
Fourth Official: Tom Neild