Bolton face in what in normal times, would be one of the spikier away days tomorrow when they travel to Tranmere Rovers.
Obviously, with no fans in attendance, it won’t be quite the same spectacle, but we still want to beat them, their fans will still want to beat us, and hopefully our players will feel the same way, particularly after losing 3-0 at home to them a month ago. Ian Evatt says he hasn;t thought about that too much, and while it might not be the worst thing to dwell on it too much, at the same time you just can’t forget about a defeat like that.
IAN EVATT | Manager ahead of Tranmere Rovers away fixture – YouTube
Team news
Kieran Lee will be out this weekend as he deals with a minor muscle injury, although he should be available in midweek. Shaun Miller and Declan John are recovering well, but this match comes too soon. I have no inside info, Ian, by the way. Even if lots of people do these days – on all clubs.
Previously…
Last season’s trip to Prenton Park ended in a 5-0 defeat. A week after the kids got that heroic 0-0 draw against Coventry, there was a huge bite of reality, despite the return of what few senior players we did have. We held out well, but once Ollie Banks and Morgan Ferrier scored a quickfire couple of goals before the break, that was it. Notably, it was also Phil Parkinson’s final match in charge, he would resign four days later.
The opposition
Tranmere sit 11th, four points ahead of us. As we know by now, Keith Hill took over a few weeks before our home game against them, results have been up and down for him, but their win at our place will have earnt him some goodwill, as did a win against Forest Green in midweek.
Prediction
We seem to be a better side away from home, still I forecast a draw. 1-1.