Bolton find themselves having to dust themselves off tomorrow ahead of their trip to Walsall.
Wanderers undid so much good work, work that resulted in Ian Evatt bagging the November Manager of the Month award, when they conceded six at home to Port Vale last weekend. They now need to go away to a team that ended a winning a run themselves, Walsall winning away at Tranmere last weekend. We’re still just three points off the playoffs, but Cambridge, whose goal difference is much better, occupy that last spot, so it’s just about climbing a few places.
IAN EVATT | Head Coach ahead of Walsall away fixture – YouTube
Team news
Evatt may make some changes from last weekend’s debacle, but at the same time he is reluctant to make ‘mass change.’ Eoin Doyle and Nathan Delfouneso will continue up front, Tom White would probably come in for George Thomason in midfield. Marc Iles has described Lloyd Isgrove as a ‘strong bet’ to come in, but how that works is up for debate. While we were bad last weekend, hopefully the backline, which had a few good weeks up until then, gets a chance to redeem themselves.
Previously…
This will be Bolton’s first trip to the Banks’s Stadium since September 2016, when we lost 1-0. Jason McCarthy scored the only goal of the afternoon, as Neil Etheridge had a blinder to keep us out.
The opposition
Walsall sit 14th, a point behind us going into this. They’ve won just one of their last five, but that was at Tranmere last time out, and it’s still better form than Port Vale going into last Saturday, and they did alright. There are couple of ex-Bolton players in the squad, Danny Guthrie and Hayden White are both on the Saddlers’ books these days.
Prediction
I wouldn’t be too disappointed with an away point if it steadies things after last week. 1-1