PREVIEW: Wanderers v Lincoln City

Wanderers return to action after the international break when they face Lincoln City at the University of Bolton Stadium.

The in-form Whites kick off a busy October with the first of eight games inside a month.

Ian Evatt’s side will be bidding to make it four League One wins in a row to stay in the top six, while mid-table Lincoln arrive in decent form themselves after just two league defeats so far this season.

Manager quotes

Ian Evatt: “They are an entertaining team. They score goals and have had some good results of late.

“Mark Kennedy (below) coming from Manchester City has taken some of their values and their patterns with him.

“They’ve got some threats at the top end of the pitch so we’re going to have to be at our best.

“You can’t dip below your level in this league because the minute you do you lose football match.

“It’s really competitive, there are strange results every weekend and we have to make sure we’re at it.

“We know what’s required and we’ll plan accordingly and hopefully produce.”

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Team news

Wanderers are getting close to full strength as almost all of Ian Evatt’s squad gets back up to full speed.

Jon Dadi Bodvarsson and Josh Sheehan both completed 90 minutes in the Papa Johns Trophy tie at Tranmere to top up their match fitness.

Lloyd Isgrove returned from his lengthy injury absence in the 2-2 draw at Prenton Park and may be the only squad member still requiring more game time.

Evatt was due to check on his returning internationals with Conor Bradley feeling under the weather following his latest appearances for Northern Ireland. 

Lincoln could have midfielder Danny Mandroiu available for the first time after the summer signing from Shamrock Rovers started full training following injury.

However, fellow midfield man Jacob Davenport picked up a knock on his return against Doncaster Rovers in the Papa Johns Trophy and is set to miss out, along with Ted Bishop who is still out and defender Joe Walsh.

Form guide

Wanderers are unbeaten in five games, although their winning run was ended with a 2-2 draw at Tranmere Rovers (who took the bonus point from a penalty shoot-out win) in the Papa Johns Trophy.

The Whites have won their last three league games – conceding just one goal in the process – to sit sixth in the table.

And Evatt’s men have taken 12 points from a possible 15 at home this season to make it eight wins from their last nine league games at the UniBol.

Lincoln – who also sat out last weekend’s fixtures – are 12th in the table after back-to-back league wins, including a 6-3 victory at Bristol Rovers last time out thanks to a hat-trick from on-loan Sunderland forward Jack Diamond.

A Papa Johns Trophy defeat to Doncaster denied the Imps a hat-trick of wins but Mark Kennedy’s men will arrive with just three defeats in all competitions behind them as they try and move into the top 10.

Officials

Referee: Neil Hair

Assistant referees: Stephen Wade and Conor Brown

Fourth official: Billy Smallwood

Kick-off

Saturday 3pm

Coverage

Full commentary is available with an iFollow audio pass with a live stream available to overseas subscribers. For details of how to purchase, go HERE

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