Wanderers return to Sky Bet League Two action tomorrow afternoon with a first ever league fixture against Crawley Town. Ian Evatt’s men prepare for their first outing in seven days following the postponement of the midweek fixture against Morecambe.
Pre-Match Quotes:
Ian Evatt: ‘It’ll be a difficult game no doubt, and they’re on the back of a very good win at Forest Green on Tuesday. In terms of the way they play, they change a lot. The formation they use changes and that depends on who they come up against – they adapt their tactics, so we don’t really know what to expect.
‘The most important thing for us it to concentrate on ourselves and be better at what we do. Certainly that means that defensively we need to be stronger and then continue to score goals like we have been doing in recent weeks.’
John Yems: ‘Every game we play is a tough game. They’re all tough trips but let’s hope that teams don’t want to play us – that’s the other side of it. There’s no easy games but that’s the way you want it. If they were easy then you wouldn’t be enjoying it so much.’
How to watch:
Wanderers supporters can watch the clash with Crawley 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:
Wanderers will be without defender Peter Kioso who serves a one-match suspension following his sending off for two bookable offences at Carlisle United on Boxing Day.
Aside from the obvious casualties in Dennis Politic, Liam Edwards, Arthur Gnahoua and Shaun Miller, Ian Evatt should have more or less a fully fit and available squad to select from this weekend.
In the Crawley camp, Tarryn Allarakhia will serve the second match of a three match suspension after he was sent off in a 1-1 draw against Newport County on Boxing Day. Jake Hesketh was replaced early in that Boxing Day clash with Newport and missed Tuesday’s win at Forest Green. He could miss Saturday’s match.
Bookies Odds:
Bolton Wanderers win: 29/20
Draw: 12/5
Crawley Town win: 13/8
Correct as of 01/01/2021 (5.30pm) on skybet.com
Form:
Wanderers hope to hit a similar level of form in January that they managed to hit during the month of November. December wasn’t quite so consistent for Ian Evatt’s men who began the final month of 2020 with back-to-back defeats at the hands of Port Vale and Walsall.
A late win at Cheltenham Town saw Wanderers bounce back somewhat and after a home defeat to Tranmere Rovers in the final match before Christmas, the team came from behind to earn a 3-3 draw at Carlisle United on Boxing Day.
Crawley make a first trip to the University of Bolton Stadium on the back of a run that has seen them go unbeaten since a 2-1 home defeat to Grimsby Town in late November. December saw the Red Devils earn victories against Barrow, Leyton Orient and Forest Green Rovers, with draws against Colchester United, Mansfield Town, Bradford City and Newport County.
Last time out:
The two teams have never met in a league fixture but have met once before in a League Cup tie back in August 2012 in West Sussex.
It proved to be a night to forget for Owen Coyle’s men early on in their first season back in the Championship following relegation from the Premier League.
Benik Afobe’s goal saw Wanderers a goal to the good at half-time but Town came back strongly in the second half and late goals from Billy Clarke and Nicky Ajose saw the League One side through to the third round of the competition.
Match Officials:
Referee: Samuel Barrott.
Assistant Referees: Richard Wigglesworth and David Avent.
Fourth Official: Sebastian Stockbridge.