🗞️ Preview: Wigan Athleic vs. Bolton Wanderers

Wanderers make the short trip to the DW Stadium to take on fellow Sky Bet League One outfit Wigan Athletic in the Second Round of the Carabao Cup this Tuesday evening.

Both Wanderers and the Latics have enjoyed productive starts to the 2021/22 campaign. Wigan haven’t lost since the opening day of the campaign, and Bolton are yet to be beaten with two wins and two draws from the opening four league matches.

Ian Evatt’s men earned their passage through to the Second Round of the Carabao Cup with a penalty shoot-out victory against Barnsley at the University of Bolton Stadium following a goalless draw. Wigan also took a Sky Bet Championship scalp, defeating Hull City on penalties in the First Round following a 1-1 draw at the MKM Stadium.

Pre-match quotes: From the bosses

Ian Evatt: “The fixture list doesn’t get any easier for us at the moment, but we’re looking forward to the game, and we think it’s a good chance for us to progress to the next round. I hear clichés about trying to take emotions out of local derbies – you can’t do that. We have to play with emotion and show that we care – which we will, but we will also concentrate on our job and implementing our game plan. If we do that, then I think we can get the right result.”

Leam Richardson: “It’s two fantastic football clubs – I’ve been very fortunate to experience both in playing for one and managing the other one. There are some fantastic people at both clubs and it’ll be a fantastic spectacle for both sets of supporters.”

Team News:

Team news is a difficult one to predict for this evening’s trip to the DW Stadium, but Amadou Bakayoko will miss out through injury. Will Aimson is stepping up his recovery, but he won’t be involved this evening.

Changes may or may not be made from Saturday’s win against Oxford United, but Ian Evatt said in his pre-match press conference that he’ll be picking a team he feels is capable of winning the game.

Tickets and Travel

Tickets for tonight’s game have sold out. Wanderers will be backed by a full allocation of 4,700 supporters at the DW Stadium this evening. Thank you for your following support.

Those travelling by train should be made aware that at the behest of the Greater Manchester Police, supporters are advised to arrive at Wigan Wallgate station as early as possible for the 22:50 service heading back to Bolton. This will be the final train of the service this evening.

Please note, there will be no alcohol being served within the stadium.

Unfortunately, our official coach travel has sold out.

Cashless at the DW Stadium.

The DW Stadium is now a card-only stadium. The only thing you can purchase with cash is the matchday programme.

Last Time Out

It was an afternoon to forget for Wanderers as they headed towards relegation from the Sky Bet Championship with a heavy defeat at the hands of fellow strugglers, Wigan Athletic. Joe Garner gave the Latics an early lead with Gavin Massey and Nick Powell striking just after the break to leave Phil Parkinson’s men with a mountain to climb.

Gary O’Neil scored to get Bolton on the scoresheet, but Michael Jacobs rifled a shot into the top corner to restore Wigan’s three-goal advantage. Sammy Ameobi was the next to score for Bolton, before Leon Clarke added a fifth for the home side.

Wigan Athletic 5-2 Bolton Wanderers | Saturday 16 March 2019

Line-Up: Matthews, Lowe (Olkowski 8), Beevers, Hobbs, Connolly, Taylor, O’Neil, J. Williams, Buckley (Noone 82), Donaldson (Ameobi 46), Magennis.

Unused Subs: B. Williams, Wheater, Wilson, Connell.

Match Officials:

Referee: Thomas Bramall

Assistants: Steven Meredith and Andrew Dallison

Fourth Official: Thomas Parsons