🗞️ Preview: Bolton Wanderers vs. Port Vale

Wanderers host Port Vale at the University of Bolton Stadium in Sky Bet League Two as they go in search of a sixth successive win in all competitions.

Pre-Match Quotes: 

Ian Evatt: “It’s a cliche but it’s all about the next game. Things change quickly in football.

“People look at Port Vale’s form and our form and think it’s a given. It’s certainly not a given and we have to be bang at it again on Saturday.

“We’ll focus on ourselves primarily. If we do what we can do to the ability that we can do then I’ve got every faith that we’ll get three points.”

John Askey: “Bolton have got decent players so it was only a matter of time before they started to win games and be in the top half, we’d expect them to be up there at the end of the season.” 

How to watch:

Wanderers supporters can watch the game against Port Vale by purchasing an iFollow BWFC video match pass for just £10.

An iFollow BWFC video match pass will ensure supporters do not miss a minute of the action, with the entire match streamed through any compatible laptop, computer, tablet or mobile device in the United Kingdom.

Click here to purchase your pass.

Team News:

Wanderers will be without midfielder Andrew Tutte and striker Shaun Miller who are both nursing thigh injuries. Tutte is expected to be out for 3-4 weeks, whilst Miller is likely to be sidelined until March.

Harry Brockbank has stepped up his return from injury and is back training, although this weekend's game could come early for the Wanderers defender. 

In the Port Vale camp, David Amoo and Danny Whitehead will both sit out the game after picking knocks since Vale’s last encounter.

Bookies Odds:

Bolton Wanderers win: 6/5

Draw: 12/5

Port Vale win: 2/1

Correct as of 4/12/2020 (5pm) on skybet.com

Form:

Wanderers’ comfortable 3-0 victory against Southend United last weekend brought their winning sequence to five consecutive games in all competitions - the first time the club has had a run of such length since the 2016/17 season. 

In contrast, after a positive start to the season Vale have lost their last five games and go in search of their first ever league away win at the University of Bolton Stadium. 

Last time out:

Wanderers raced to a three-goal lead inside 16 minutes the last time they hosted Port Vale.

Goals from Zach Clough, Josh Vela and Lawrie Wilson saw the Whites pick up a 3-1 victory against the Potteries outfit back in October 2016.

Wanderers followed this up with a 2-0 win in the reverse fixture later in the campaign, a result that moved Phil Parkinson's side on the verge of promotion back to the Championship.

Match Officials:

Referee: Carl Boyeson

Assistant Referees: Robert Akin and David Hunt

Fourth Official: Richard Woodward​