🗞️ Preview: Ipswich Town vs Bolton Wanderers

Wanderers head to Portman Road on Saturday afternoon looking to build on a point and a fantastic performance in Monday night’s televised Sky Bet League One draw against Burton Albion.

Ian Evatt’s men come up against an Ipswich Town side billed as one of the promotion favourites before a ball was kicked. Paul Cook has overseen a huge recruitment drive, bringing in a number of quality players to Suffolk, but the Tractorboys are yet to win a league fixture from their first five.

Wanderers’ record at Portman Road is far from brilliant, with the last victory there coming in an FA Cup tie in January 2005. The last league victory came in a Premiership clash in November 2001, with Sam Allardyce’s men securing a 2-1 victory courtesy of goals from Gudni Bergsson and Michael Ricketts. The current crop will be looking to end that particular winless run. 

 

Pre-match quotes: From the bosses

Ian Evatt: “They’ve got a very good squad and a very good manager. They’re a big club in their own right with a big fan base, but we have to go there with belief and with the bravery that we showed with and without the ball on Monday night. We’ll give it our best shot.”

Paul Cook: “It’ll be a good game. Ian Evatt has done fantastically well in his short managerial career so far. Bolton are another club in League One that has fallen on bad days, but they want to get back to where they came from. We’ve got to be bang at it, to get anything out of the game tomorrow.”

 

Team News:

In his pre-match press conference, manager Ian Evatt has confirmed that Will Aimson is fit and available for selection after playing the full 90 minutes in the Reserves’ 2-1 Central League victory against Accrington Stanley on Tuesday afternoon.

He also confirmed that Xavier Amaechi and Amadou Bakayoko are progressing well with their rehabilitation as the pair look to make a return in the weeks ahead.

 

Tickets and Travel

Ipswich Town have confirmed there will be no pay on the day available to Wanderers' supporters for Saturday's away Sky Bet League One fixture at Portman Road, and the 3pm deadline has also passed for supporters to purchase a ticket directly from the Bolton Wanderers Ticket Office.

Lateral Flow/Vaccination History

For all supporters visiting Portman Road this season, Ipswich Town will be asking for proof of a negative lateral flow test or proof of a double vaccination.

  • A negative lateral flow test must have been reported and can be demonstrated via text message or email via NHS Test & Trace. Tests need to be taken within 48 hours of the stadium opening time of 1.30pm.

 

  • Vaccination history – Proof that both does have been received at least 14 days prior to the fixture. This can be documented by the NHS app or via the Scottish or Welsh vaccination record services. Ipswich Town will also accept the NHS vaccine card issued at the point of 1st Vaccination, however photo ID (e.g. drivers licence) will be required at the turnstile, if supporters choose this option.

Official Coach Travel has now SOLD OUT.

 

Last Time Out

The young Wanderers were dispatched by a far more experienced Ipswich Town at the University of Bolton Stadium. James Norwood’s penalty gave Ipswich Town a narrow lead at the break, but he added the fifth goal in the second half after Gwion Edwards had found the net, and Kayden Jackson had scored a brace.

Bolton Wanderers 0-5 Ipswich Town | Saturday 24 August 2019

Line-Up: Matthews, Brockbank, Zouma, Lowe, White (Boon 68), Murphy, Weir, Graham (Lockett 46), King-Harmes, Darcy, Brown-Sterling (Brown 85).

Unused Subs: Alexander, Senior, Richards, Riley.

 

Match Officials:

Referee: Bobby Madley

Assistants: Paul Yates and Greg Read

Fourth Official: Anthony Da Costa

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