Could Bolton make it three wins in a row tomorrow?
That nice little milestone, which we haven’t done in the league this season, could happen tomorrow should we beat Sunderland. It promises to be a decent atmosphere, with the North East side bringing their usual large travelling support. Our fans have responded too, with over 19,000 expected in total at the UniBol.
IAN EVATT | Manager ahead of Sunderland home fixture – YouTube
Team news
There shouldn’t be too much change in terms of availability for tomorrow. Kieran Sadlier only signed today, so it seems unlikely he would have been registered in time to be involved. It will probably an unchanged side, unless Ian Evatt decides to bring in Jon Dadi Bodvarsson or Dapo Afolayan for Amadou Bakayoko.
Possible XI: Trafford; Jones, Almeida Santos, Johnston; Fossey, Morley, Williams, Lee, John; Charles, Bodvarsson
Last meeting
Our last home game against Sunderland was in September 2019, also coming in League One. Jack Hobbs gave us a lead early in the second half, but a late penalty from Aiden McGeady denied us what would have been a first league win of the season, but at least we moved onto -9 points with that 1-1 draw…
The opposition
Ian Evatt has called Sunderland ‘the best footballing team’ in League One. Thought that was us…
Anyway, Sunderland are probably looking as likely as ever they have been in recent years to finally get out of League One, currently sitting second but have won only two of their last five in the league. With 18 goals, Ross Stewart has been the predominant goal threat this season. January has been busy for them, with Danny Batth joining, the veteran should be involved at centre-back. Patrick Roberts and Jack Clarke have also arrived from Man City and on loan from Spurs respectively. If both play that would be some ammo for Stewart. Goalkeeper Lee Burge won’t be involved though as he has been diagnosed with a heart issue.
Prediction
I’m going for a 1-1 draw. The first goal will be important in this, neither team has lost in the league when scoring first this season. We’ve been, if not necessarily good at home, only beaten by the top sides in the division. Sunderland are one of those, but we’re in a better situation now with players and options available to us than we have been for a good while, so there’s definitely at least a point up for grabs.