Bolton are looking to bounce back from last week’s disappointing result as they travel up to high-flying Sunderland.
In what’s still a congested table, we will start the day eighth, but could move as high as third should we win the match at the Stadium of Light.
IAN EVATT | Wanderers manager previews Sunderland away league fixture – YouTube
Team news
We’re seeming to get more and more players doing more training, but for this weekend at least only Declan John will be available – Harry Brockbank, Amadou Bakayoko and Xavier Amaechi are getting closer, but Andrew Tutte is having surgery tomorrow and will be out for a while.
Possible XI – Dixon; Jones, Santos, Johnston, John; Williams, Sheehan; Isgrove, Sarcevic, Afolayan; Doyle
Last time out
Our last meeting with Sunderland was the Boxing Day trip to the Stadium of Light in 2019 – we played out a goalless draw in one of our better showings of the season. We were bottom and Sunderland 15th after that game. We’re currently eighth and second now respectively.
The opposition
Sunderland are now in their fourth season of League One football, but this time have started well, playing a more attacking style under Lee Johnson with a 100% league record at home. After being frozen out by Phil Parkinson, Aiden McGeady is firing on the wing again, Australian Bailey Wright is a decent presence at the back, while Luke O’Nien has been with the club for the last three and a bit years, picking up a Young Player of the Year award while he was there.
Prediction
I think we’ve a chance here, as Sunderland will have a go at us. However, if I had to predict an outcome, I would go for 2-1 to Sunderland. If we scored first though…