🗞️ Preview: Bolton Wanderers vs. Morecambe

After two successive postponements it’s game on at the University of Bolton Stadium as Ian Evatt’s men host Morecambe in a Sky Bet League Two encounter for the very first time.

Pre-Match Quotes: 

Ian Evatt: “It’s going to be a tough game. Derek’s done a wonderful job and they’re punching above their weight certainly. They’ve got a real togetherness.

"You can see that from the way they play. The players run that extra mile for each other and they’ve had some fantastic results this season.

“No doubt they’ll come to the UniBol and like what they see, like the surroundings and want to showcase their own talent, but all of a sudden, we look a slightly different animal and I’m hoping that there’s not a bit of rust there and we can hit the ground running.

"As I’ve said to the players and I’ve said many times in interviews, I talk about the 60 minute mark a lot and the 60 minute mark is that magic marker.

"If we can get to 60 minutes level or ahead, the last half an hour we’re going to finish strong and we’ve got real firepower off the bench to come and help us.

"Also the opposition fatigue because we move them a lot with how we play. It’s then that we need to take the chances and take the opportunities that we’ll be given, but we have to make sure that we’re in the game at the time and there’s been times this season where we haven’t been - Leyton Orient we were and we went on to win it comfortably. It’ll be the same on Tuesday night."

 

Derek Adams: "There’s not one outstanding team in the league.

“Over recent years, I know from my time at Plymouth, we were an outstanding team, Portsmouth were an outstanding team and Luton Town were as well.

“We don’t have that at this moment in time. What we have got is teams that use a certain style of play, like Carlisle United and Cheltenham Town, and the number of goals they get from set-plays or long throws.

“You have got different styles further down the league and it’s a good blend in terms of what you have to try and deal with.

“You just have to look at the impact Tranmere have had in getting into the play-offs recently, where Mansfield have been or how Newport were right at the top and then dropped down."

 

How to watch:

Wanderers supporters can watch the clash with Morecambe by purchasing an iFollow BWFC video match pass for just £10 you don’t have to miss a kick.

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:

After Saturday’s postponement at Salford, Wanderers are champing at the bit to get back into action following their home victory against Leyton Orient just over a week ago.

With all four new signings eligible for the game, the Wanderers manager will have a selection headache as he assembles a starting XI that he hopes will build on that comfortable victory against Orient.

Lukas Jensen, MJ Williams, Dapo Afolayan and Marcus Maddison could come into contention alongside fit-again Shaun Miller and Ryan Delaney, who returns from suspension.

Kieran Lee, however, will sit this game out as he is self-isolating.

 

Bookies Odds:

Bolton Wanderers win: 21/20

Draw: 5/2

Morecambe win: 9/4

Correct as of 09/02/2021 (2:30pm) on skybet.com

 

Form:

Wanderers recorded their first win of 2021 in their last outing with a 2-0 victory over Leyton Orient at the University of Bolton Stadium, a match that saw Eoin Doyle notch his tenth goal of the campaign to date.

After a winless run of six matches, Ian Evatt’s side will be hoping to gather some momentum going into a busy February schedule.

The subsequent postponements against Mansfield and Salford caused some frustration in the Wanderers camp and they will be looking to come out on top against the Shrimps in the clubs’ first ever meeting.

The visitors have won twice in their last six encounters with their most recent game ending in a 2-2 draw against Stevenage.

 

Last time out:

Tonight’s game, which has been rearranged from its original date in between Christmas and New Year will be the first ever league meeting between the two sides.

The return fixture is scheduled for Saturday 24 April.

 

Match Officials:

Referee: Michael Salisbury.

Assistant Referees: Richard Wild and James Wilson.

Fourth Official: Wade Smith.

Read Time: 4 mins