PREVIEW: Wanderers v Plymouth Argyle

It’s a big game in prospect as Wanderers take on play-off chasing Plymouth at the University of Bolton Stadium on Saturday (KO 3pm).

Argyle currently occupy League One’s final play-off berth – seven points ahead of 11th-placed Wanderers.

Ian Evatt’s men therefore have the chance to trim that advantage and keep themselves in the hunt for promotion in the final weeks of the season.

Wanderers will also be looking to avenge a 3-0 loss at Plymouth in October.

But the Whites look an entirely different proposition since their defeat at waterlogged Home Park – with a run of nine wins and two draws in their last 13 games maintaining their status as one of the form teams of League One.

Manager’s quotes

Ian Evatt: “We’re looking forward to Saturday, a different challenge and hopefully a team that will come here and try to win and have a go at us.

“And then it will be who can punch the hardest and hopefully we can punch harder than them.

“We have to make sure we’re the best version of ourselves and if we do that I believe we can win.”

Plymouth manager Steven Schumacher: “Bolton have picked up loads of points, they signed good players in January and are on a good run, so they will be confident too.

“It should be a really good game with a really good atmosphere.

“The league is so tight. Bolton are 11th at the moment but only seven points behind us, things can change so quickly if you can put a run together."

Team news

Wanderers will have versatile forward Elias Kachunga back in their squad for the first time since the start of January following his recovery from a thigh injury.

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Midfielder Kyle Dempsey misses out for the third game in a row with a groin injury but should be back for the trip to Crewe on Saturday-week.

Defender Gethin Jones is also still unavailable.

Plymouth are still expected to be without defenders Brendan Galloway and Dan Scarr, along with midfield men George Cooper and Alfie Lewis due to injury.

Tickets

Tickets are still on sale to official club members at Bolton Central or online HERE

Form guide

Wanderers dropped points at home for the first time since early January when they drew 1-1 with Morecambe on Tuesday night.

But Jon Dadi Bodvarsson’s late leveller extended the Whites’ unbeaten run at the University of Bolton Stadium to seven games.

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Sixth-placed Plymouth have won successive home games following back-to-back defeats to end February.

The Pilgrims have won nine, drawn two and lost six of their games since Steven Schumacher replaced Ryan Lowe as manager in early December.

Last meeting

Plymouth Argyle 3-0 Wanderers | Tuesday 19 October, 2021

A rain-lashed night in Devon was a tough one to take for Wanderers as they suffered a third successive defeat.

Early goals from Brendan Galloway and Conor Grant put the Pilgrims in charge.

Wanderers had chances to get back into the contest with the wind and rain behind them in the second half.

But Plymouth held out and with the Home Park pitch almost under water grabbed a late third through Ryan Broom to extend their unbeaten run to 13 games and stay top of League One.

Line-up: Dixon; Brockbank, Baptiste, Johnston, Gordon; Williams; Isgrove (Kachunga 66), Sheehan, Lee (Sarcevic 62), Afolayan; Bakayoko (Doyle 66). Substitutes: Gilks, Delfouneso, Aimson, Thomason.

Match officials

Referee: Robert Lewis

Assistant referees: Graeme Fyvie and David Hunt

Fourth official: Steven Rushton

 

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