Bolton host Morecambe tomorrow in a rearranged fixture as they try and maintain their superb home form.
This game should have been played on Boxing Day but had to be postponed due to Wanderers’ COVID woes at the time. Two and a bit months on, it may well have worked in our favour given the January reinforcements and general upturn in form. Ipswich and Portsmouth are both in action tomorrow but a great set of results would see us move above both of those sides. But let’s just concentrate on ourselves first.
The reverse fixture wasn’t without drama, with 10-man Bolton, down a man due to an incorrect sending off, snatched a 104th minute draw among racist abuse from a minority of Morecambe fans.
Team news
Illness meant Kyle Dempsey missed out on a return to Gillingham at the weekend, but while he’s better on that front a groin injury could still yet prevent him from playing. Gethin Jones remains on compassionate leave, while Elias Kachunga will have to wait until the weekend at the earliest. MJ Williams is one booking away from a two-match suspension, but his slate will be wiped clean after tomorrow’s match should he not get booked. Will this be a night to rest him?
Possible XI: Trafford; Aimson, Almeida Santos, Johnston; Fossey, Thomason, Morley, John; Afolayan; Charles, Bakayoko
Last time
Last season’s home match against Morecambe ended in a 1-1 draw, Eoin Doyle had given us a 1-0 lead at the break, but after Marcus Maddison’s sending-off, Brad Lyons headed in a corner, one of four subs made at that set-piece.
The opposition
Morecambe have just two points from the five games played since our meeting a month ago, and they are fourth bottom, two points off AFC Wimbledon. It’ll be a new old face in the dugout tomorrow too. Stephen Robinson was the boss last month, but he left for Scottish side St Mirren, to be replaced by Derek Adams, who got Morecambe promoted last season.
Prediction
We should be clear favourites. We might also be especially up for this after the away fixture. 4-0.