It’s a short trip for Bolton tomorrow as they travel down to Gresty Road to play Crewe.
The side will be backed by a sold out Wanderers’ following, and while the last couple of results have poured cold water on ambitions of making the play-offs, Ian Evatt and the players are continuing to say it’s not over. I suppose they can’t say that. In any case, there is the opportunity to move back above Portsmouth and back into the top ten.
AMADOU BAKAYOKO | Wanderers’ forward previews upcoming trip to Crewe Alexandra – YouTube
Team news
It has been announced that Marlon Fossey’s injury last weekend was a torn meniscus and that has ended his season, and therefore his loan spell with us. Interestingly, or maybe we’re just reading too much into it, but the club referred to it as his initial spell. Here’s hoping he pulls on a Bolton shirt again. In the meantime, Lloyd Isgrove has returned to training but if we keep the same system tomorrow Kieran Sadlier would probably be the one who comes in for Fossey. Gethin Jones will miss this game but returns from compassionate leave on Monday. Kyle Dempsey is back in the fold though after a recent spell out with a groin injury.
Possible XI: Trafford; Aimson, Almeida Santos, Johnston; Sadlier, Williams, Morley, John; Afolayan; Charles, Bakayoko
Last time
Our last visit to Gresty Road was in 2017, when we were drawn away to Crewe in the first round of the League Cup. At half time the upset was on, with Chris Porter scoring a few minutes before the break. However, Adam Armstrong equalised with 20 minutes to go before Derik went on to score the winner.
The opposition
It quite simply has been a rubbish season for Crewe. They aren’t quite done yet, but sit bottom of the table with eight points to make up if they’re to get out of the relegation zone, losing their last four matches. Porter is still there and has six goals this season, as does the physical threat of Mikael Mandron, but it is former Bolton loanee Chris Long who is their top scorer with seven. Another former player, Luke Murphy is club captain, while Jussi’s son Will Jaaskelainen is still at the club but has lost the gloves to Dave Richards.
Prediction
This could be a stupid comment given the Morecambe game the other week, but we should be winning this really. On top of that, Crewe probably won’t show the same belligerence as they did. This should be an away win, as long as we keep things sensible at the back. 2-0 to Bolton.