As Wanderers prepare to make the trip to Barnsley on Saturday afternoon in a key clash at the bottom of the Sky Bet Championship, bwfc.co.uk highlights five talking points ahead of the match.
1. Six-pointer
Phil Parkinson’s men will be keen to end a recent rough patch of form and put some daylight between them and the Sky Bet Championship bottom three at Oakwell on Saturday.
Only two points and one place separate Wanderers and their opponents - although the Reds hold a game in hand – emphasising just how tight it is at the bottom of the table.
Bolton could potentially move two places clear of the relegation zone with victory in South Yorkshire and leapfrog Birmingham City in the process, should Blues fail to pick up a win over table-topping Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on Sunday.
“There’s going to be a cup tie atmosphere and we need to be ready to play with real passion and commitment, but with a cool head as well,” said Parkinson at his pre-match press conference.
“As the old saying goes, ‘fire in the belly and ice running through the veins’. That’s what it’s got to be like for us out on the pitch.”
2. Head-to-head
The Trotters boast an impressive head-to-head record against Barnsley – they’re undefeated in their last 11 meetings (W6, D5) with their last loss coming in a 1998 FA Cup tie at Oakwell.
Earlier in the season, the Whites ran out comfortable 3-1 winners at Macron Stadium thanks to a Gary Madine brace and a second-half strike from Mark Little.
Wanderers will be keen to ensure their recent fortunes against the Tykes continue come 3pm on Saturday afternoon.
3. League double?
Three points at the weekend would see Wanderers secure a league double over Barnsley and would be Bolton’s first league double of the campaign.
Having already defeated the Tykes once this season, back in December, the Trotters will be hoping it's a case of same again when they take to the field on Saturday.
4. Yorkshire travels
Bolton have enjoyed success on their Yorkshire travels this season, picking up four wins out of the eight games played.
The team have fared best against Sheffield Wednesday, taking four points off the Hillsborough outfit in the league and beating them in the EFL Cup.
The Whites also saw off Sheffield United, 0-1, at Bramall Lane in late December, with Gary Madine scoring the all-important goal on that day.
And, as mentioned above, the final and fourth victory came over Barnsley at Macron Stadium in early December.
Can Wanderers extend it to five Yorkshire wins out of nine this weekend?
5. Pay on the day
Wanderers will be spurred on at Oakwell by over 2,000 travelling Whites!
Tickets remain on sale for the match and will be available on the day at Oakwell from the North Stand turnstiles on a cash-only basis.
Adult, Over-65 and Under-22 price bands will increase by £2 on the day, but no Under-17s or Under-12s tickets will be available and must be purchased in advance of the fixture.
Any supporters who have organised for their tickets to be sent to Barnsley for collection or have their tickets duplicated, these will be left at the main reception situated next to the South Stand Ticket Office.
Prices are as follows:
General Prices (Pay On The Day)
Adults - £30 (£32)
Over-65s - £22 (£24)
Under-22s - £22 (£24)
*Under-17s - £10 (N/A)
*Under-12s - £5 (N/A)
Be loud, be proud and back the boys!