Wanderers head home on a high after marking the club’s 5000th league game with a 5-0 win at Peterborough United on Saturday.
A fourth successive victory lifted the Whites up to fourth place in the League One table.
The margin of victory was Wanderers’ biggest away from home in 22 years but boss Ian Evatt will demand no complacency or dropping of standards when his side faces an MK Dons team battling to stay out of the relegation places.
Manager quotes:
Ian Evatt: “For us, it was enjoy Saturday on Saturday but then quickly re-set and re-focus for a challenging game on Tuesday night.
“Off those types of wins and performances good teams always back it up and that’s what we want to become – a good team.
“We’re not there yet. We still think there’s lots of improvement to come.
“It’s a team that’s evolving all the time and improving all the time. Tuesday is going to be a tough game against a team which has improved of late, who are fighting for their lives.
“They have still got some very good players, so we have to make sure we’re at our best.”
MK Dons manager Mark Jackson:
“We know they're a good, strong team, with a good win at the weekend. They play a certain style of football which is exciting to see, and we'll be ready for that challenge.
“They score goals, they're powerful and play on the front foot. We'll have to be on our game to deal with that. But I feel we have elements to cause them problems too.
“I spoke about the discipline we needed when we played Bristol Rovers a couple of weeks ago, and I think we'll need that against Bolton in moments.
“But I want the players to have freedom to show what we can do. I want us to be progressive and forward thinking. We've got the capabilities and firepower to cause them problems as well.”
Team news:
Wanderers are still missing the suspended Conor Bradley but will have forward Elias Kachunga available again following a three-match ban.
Midfielder George Thomason returned to training on Monday but isn’t expected to feature for a week or two after being out since the start of December with a knee injury.
Defender George Johnston and striker Dan Nlundulu are progressing well from their injury lay-offs but are also not yet ready to return.
Dons’ boss Mark Jackson has no fresh injury concerns but is missing half-a-dozen longer term absentees, including long-serving defender Dean Lewington.
Form guide:
Wanderers’ anniversary win at Peterborough was their fourth successive League One win and fifth in six games.
The fourth-placed Whites – who won 2-0 at Stadium MK in mid-September – will also be seeking a fifth successive home victory in all competitions.
Ian Evatt’s men are unbeaten at the University of Bolton Stadium since the end of October and have kept clean sheets in their last eight home games.
MK Dons sit just one place and one point above the relegation zone but have lost just two of their last five games and have won their last two away fixtures.
The Dons have picked up 11 points from nine games – including one from a 1-1 draw with Oxford United on Saturday – since former Leeds United coach Mark Jackson was appointed manager just before Christmas.
Officials:
Referee: Marc Edwards
Assistant referees: Richard Woodward and Anthony Moore
Fourth official: Jake Topp
Kick-off:
Tuesday 7.45pm
Tickets:
Tickets are still on sale up to 2pm on Friday, with details of how to buy HERE
Coverage:
The game will be streamed live on BWFC iFollow, with a £10 video match pass available HERE