Wanderers kick off another big month as they face Charlton Athletic on another ‘Family Day’ at the University of Bolton Stadium.
Reduced ticket prices and a welcome to all is set to guarantee another big crowd to get behind the Whites as they look for a third home league win of the season.
Wanderers got back on the winning trail with an impressive 4-1 Papa Johns Trophy win over Crewe on Tuesday night and will be looking to stay among the goals to collect the three points that would lift them from 10th place above Charlton in the League One table.
Manager quotes:
Ian Evatt: “We looked pre-season at the fixtures and the first couple of months are really challenging.
“I think if we’re in the top 10 after September then I think we’ve got a really good position to build from.
“For now, it’s a really tough month with some difficult games and Charlton is the first one of those.
“They are a good team, well coached, an in-possession team and it will be a good game.
“It will be a tough game but a tough game for both teams and hopefully we’ll be on the better side of the moments we have been talking about.”
Charlton manager Ben Garner:
“We’ve prepared very well this week. We need to look after ourselves now in terms of the journey and the physical preparation going into the game.
“Then we need to perform, focus on what we’ve set out to do and go and deliver it as best we can.
“I think we’re really unfortunate not to have done that (won away from home) in the three away performances we’ve had so far.
“Accrington, Sheffield Wednesday and Wycombe we could easily have won each and every one of those games, so we need to maintain that.
“We need to take the positives out of those away performances. Bolton’s a big pitch, a good surface and that will suit us. We’ll be looking forward to that and we want to go there and win the game.”
Team news:
Wanderers will monitor the fitness levels of new loan signing Owen Beck to assess whether he will be involved.
Josh Sheehan and Eoin Toal proved their well-being with successful comebacks in mid-week but may be given more game-time before being reading for League One duty.
Striker Jon Dadi Bodvarsson (hamstring) and left-back Declan John (calf) are ruled out.
Charlton made seven signings during the summer and were linked with a move for former striker Macauley Bonne – now at QPR – ahead of the window.
That didn’t materialise but the Londoners could have fit-again midfielders Conor McGrandles and Corey Blackett-Taylor back in their squad.
Defender Steven Sessegnon has also returned to training after being out since mid-August, while centre-back Ryan Inniss faces a fitness check.
Form guide:
Wanderers ended a run of three defeats in league and cup with an impressive 4-1 Papa Johns Trophy win over Crewe Alexandra on Wednesday night.
The Whites have won four of their six home games in all competitions so far this season.
Charlton also beat League Two opposition in the Trophy as they recorded a 3-0 home success against Gillingham on Wednesday night.
The Addicks have lost just once so far this term – a 1-0 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday – and sit eighth in the League One table, two places and one point better off than Wanderers after drawing their last two in league games.
Charlton are winless away in the league, with two points from their three games on the road.
Officials:
Referee: Tom Reeves
Assistant referees: David Avent and Mark Cunliffe
Fourth official: Darren Drysdale
Kick-off:
Saturday 3pm
Tickets:
Saturday is Family Day again at the University of Bolton Stadium - as well as a celebration of the Her Game Too campaign - with tickets reduced to just £10 and £5. Click HERE for details of how to buy.
Coverage:
The game will be streamed live for overseas viewers with audio commentary available for a UK audience. For details and to purchase a match pass click HERE