🗞️ Preview: Crawley Town vs. Bolton Wanderers

Ian Evatt’s men travel down to West Sussex knowing that a victory against Crawley Town will secure automatic promotion and an immediate return to Sky Bet League One on the final day of the current league campaign.

Defeat against Exeter City last weekend and a victory for Morecambe in their game, saw the gap between Wanderers and the Shrimps reduced to a point.

But the Whites’ fate still remains in their own hands for their first-ever league fixture at the People’s Pension Stadium.

 

Pre-match quotes:

Ian Evatt: “It's obviously a big game and another chance to get a promotion. I’ve been very fortunate that I’ve had many promotions in my football career and one as a manager very early on in my career.

"I’m used to these games and that’s what you’re in football for and then it’s just about the other lads being used to it.

"But we’ve got lots of lads that have been promoted and lots of younger ones that want that on their CV, so we’re fully focused and we know what we have to do and we have to make sure we do the job on Saturday.

“I think it’ll be a tough game. It’s on Sky so there’s the added pressure of Sky.

"I don’t suppose John (Yems) will want to see any opposition team celebrate at his stadium, so that will be their focus to prevent that from happening. We have to be focused on ourselves.

"We know it’s going to be a challenging game and a difficult one, but we need to be at our usual standard and if we are, we’re hopeful we can get the right result.”

 

How to Watch:

The game at the People’s Pension Stadium is being broadcast live on Sky Sports Football (Kick Off 3pm).

Consequently, the game will not be streamed live on iFollow BWFC

However, audio passes will be available, priced at £2.50, for those supporters who would like to listen to commentary of the match.

Alternatively, supporters who don’t have a Sky Sports subscription can watch the game if they purchase a 24-hour Now TV pass.

The Club is reminding people not travel to Crawley or gather in large crowds at the University of Bolton Stadium or anywhere else.

Thank you for your co-operation.

 

Team News:

Kieran Lee won’t feature after injuring his calf during Saturday’s game against Exeter City.

Young midfielder George Thomason is likely to return to the starting XI in Lee’s absence.

Otherwise, there are no fresh injury concerns for Ian Evatt’s men.

 

Form:

Saturday’s last gasp defeat at home to Exeter City brought to an end a two-game winning run for Wanderers which included a victory against nearest promotion rivals Morecambe.

Crawley have drawn two and lost one of their last three games and currently reside in 12th position in the Sky Bet League Two table.

 

Last Time Out

George Francomb netted the game's only goal to earn an in-form Crawley a victory at the University of Bolton Stadium in early January.

Although Wanderers created a plethora of gilt-edged chances, they were unable to get anything from the game to start 2021 with defeat.

 

Match Officials:

Referee: Robert Madley 

Assistants: Anthony Da Costa and Alistair Nelson

Fourth Official: Will Finnie

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