Wanderers will be in action for the first time on their travels on Saturday with their first league away fixture of the 2020/21 season, at Colchester United.
Ian Evatt’s men will be looking to take the three points home at the weekend to really get their season up and running after an opening day defeat to Forest Green Rovers at the University of Bolton Stadium last weekend.
Pre-Match Quotes:
Ian Evatt: ‘Colchester are a good team. They’re good going forward with very quick attacking players. They’ve obviously lost four or five of their key players due to the pandemic with people having to cut their budgets.
‘The majority of that team that reached the play-offs last season is still there. They’ve got some very good young players and we’ll need to defend well – but we also need to attack better.’
Steve Ball: ‘Ian Evatt has done a great job at Barrow, I watched them a lot last year. A really nice fluid team, which plays 3-5-2. He’s going to bring that to Bolton, and I know he will want time to do that.
‘Bolton is a big club with a big expectation this year, I’m sure they’ve got a really nice budget to work from and they have got some really good players for this division.’
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 he has a couple of fresh injury concerns to contend with ahead of the weekend’s clash.
Dennis Politic is an existing long-term injury within the squad but he underwent surgery during the week, so the winger’s road to recovery is underway.
There are no injury concerns to report from the Colchester United camp.
Team news will be available from 2pm tomorrow afternoon.
Bookies Odds:
Colchester win: 29/20
Draw: 5/2
Bolton win: 8/5
Correct as of 18/09/2020 (5pm) on skybet.com
Form:
Wanderers come into the match on the back of three consecutive defeats, with the latest on the opening day of the league campaign to Forest Green Rovers following cup losses at the hands of Bradford City and Crewe Alexandra.
United were held to a goalless draw in their opening league fixture away at Bradford City last weekend. They too were beaten in their first two fixtures in the Carabao Cup and EFL Trophy respectively – losing out at the hands of Reading and Portsmouth.
Last time out:
This is Wanderers’ first ever visit to the JobServe Community Stadium, a ground which was opened in August 2008 following a move from their old ground, Layer Road.
There has only been two meetings between the two clubs at first team level, and the last clash took place at Burnden Park in May 1988 with Wanderers running out as 4-0 winners.
It was a season of success for Wanderers as they ultimately earned an immediate promotion from the fourth tier. In the earlier reverse fixture at Layer Road, Colchester won 3-0.
Match Officials:
Referee: James Oldham
Assistant Referees: Stephen Brown and Paul Lister
Fourth Official: Leigh Crowhurst.