🗞️ Preview: Bolton Wanderers vs. Newport County

Wanderers return to Sky Bet League Two action tomorrow afternoon with a fixture against Newport County at the University of Bolton Stadium.

Aiming to put their first points on the board, Ian Evatt’s men will go head to head with Michael Flynn’s side who have had a positive start to the campaign with four points from six and a run to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup for the first time.

Pre-Match Quotes: 

Ian Evatt: ‘Newport have started well. I know their manager well. I had a year with Flynny (Michael Flynn) at Blackpool, he’s done an excellent job.

‘For me it’s not about them it’s about what we do. That’s the path we’re on and the process we’re going down. If we can perform to the capabilities we showed for long spells at Colchester and in training this week then we’ll win.’

Michael Flynn: ‘It’ll be good to visit the (University of Bolton) stadium. I never played there before and hopefully we can go and pick up the three points.

‘It’ll be a tough game. It’s about the players and what they do on the pitch. If they can keep up their good form then we’ll give them a good game.’

How to watch:

Wanderers season ticket holders will be able to watch the game FREE of charge on via iFollow BWFC. Click here for more information.

If you aren’t a season ticket holder, you will also be able to watch the game by purchasing a Match Pass for just £10. Click here to buy your match pass today.

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.

Team News:

Ian Evatt confirmed that Antoni Sarcevic and Shaun Miller are nearing a return to action but the weekend’s fixture will likely come too early for the duo, with next week’s away clash against Harrogate a more realistic return date.

Dennis Politic as we know is a long-term absentee with Muhammadu Faal likely to continue his spell on the sidelines also.

Michael Flynn is said to have no new injury concerns coming into the weekend’s fixture against Wanderers with a largely fit squad to choose from ahead of their long trip north from South Wales.

Bookies Odds:

Bolton win: 13/10

Draw: 23/10

Newport win: 19/10

Correct as of 25/09/2020 (4.30pm) on skybet.com

Form:

Wanderers come into the match still in search for their first points of the 2020/21 campaign. The performance at Colchester last weekend was notably improved from the opening day defeat against Forest Green Rovers and Ian Evatt will be hoping for further improvement and three points this weekend.

County have picked up four points from their first two league matches with a draw at Scunthorpe United followed by a narrow home victory against newly-promoted Barrow. Meanwhile, the club have embarked on a run to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup which has seen them defeat Swansea City, Cambridge United and Watford.

Last time out:

The two clubs haven’t met since Newport’s expulsion from the Football League and subsequent reformation in the late 1980s, but the prior to those events the club last met at Burnden Park in April 1988.

In a Fourth Division clash and with Wanderers heading for promotion back to the third tier at the first time of asking, Phil Neal’s side put six past County with John Thomas scoring a hat-trick as Trevor Morgan, Mark Winstanley and Steven Thompson also found the net.

Match Officials:

Referee: Christopher Sarginson.

Assistant Referees: Garry Maskell and Billy Smallwood.

Fourth Official: Steven Copeland.