Wanderers go to Peterborough hoping to end their campaign on the road on a high.
The Whites make their final trip of the season to London Road, although there’s nothing at stake for either side after Wanderers saw their play-off hopes ended with back-to-back defeats over the Easter weekend.
Vertu Trophy winners Peterborough drew both their bank holiday fixtures 1-1 to make it mathematically certain they will be in League One again next season.
Wanderers’ final away game of last season was also at Peterborough when a 3-3 draw, coupled with a win for Derby County, ended the Whites’ outside chances of securing automatic promotion on the last day.
The first meeting between the sides this season saw Wanderers’ secure a 1-0 home win in October thanks to an injury-time winner from Klaidi Lolos.
Press Conferences
Steven Schumacher: “We don't want to lose five games in a row. I think that's the first objective. To have lost four games in a row was really disappointing, especially for how well we were playing and what we had at stake.
“We hope we can put a performance in our fans can get behind. The last two away games haven't been good enough. To concede four goals away from home twice has been a huge blow. We have to put that right on Saturday.
“We have to do better on the fundamentals that we didn't do at Lincoln, stay a bit more compact as a team, try and be a bit more organised, try and be a bit harder to play against and get through and make fewer mistakes.
“We're going to have to go to Peterborough and make sure that we're at it because we're coming up against a team who, if you're not at it, their forward players are excellent, so we need to make sure we defend well.”
Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson: “Bolton are another team that lost in the play-offs two years on the bounce. They go into every season, with the budget they've got, the finances, the size of the squad they've got, where you would expect them to be challenging.
“Right up to now they have been and, obviously, it's not worked out. They had the bounce effect when Steven went in and they looked strong to get in the play-offs, maybe even top two. Obviously, the results haven't gone (rigtht), they've fallen away, so whatever Steven does (on Saturday), he'll do. He's a good manager, who’s had good success at this level but we've just got to focus on ourselves.
“For me, the message to the players is a clear one. Whenever you have a final (home) game of the season the ideal situation is you say thanks to the fans. But you want to send them home with a win. You don't want it to be no-one in the stadium.
“So, we've got motivation going into these games and all the games and the players know what I'm like. They know I'm going to demand the best they can give and there's no excuses for anything else.”
Team News
Wanderers have a lengthy roll call of absent players with up to a dozen unavailable to the head coach Steven Schumacher.
Those missing through injury are: Aaron Morley, Josh Sheehan, Jordi Osei-Tutu, Victor Adeboyejo, Eoin Toal, Will Forrester, Ricardo Almeida Santos, Carlos Mendes Gomes, Kion Etete and Sonny Sharples-Ahmed.
In addition, Josh Dacres-Cogley serves a one-match ban for his dismissal at Lincoln City on Monday and defensive colleague George Johnston could be absent due to the impending birth of his first child.
Schumacher will therefore have a number of B Team and Academy players involved in his match-day squad following recent debuts for Sharples-Ahmed and David Abimbola.
With safety assured and silverware in the cupboard courtesy of the Vertu Trophy it may also be all-change for Peterborough as boss Darren Ferguson potentially gives opportunities to some of those who haven’t played regularly this season.
However, Ricky-Jade Jones, Player of the Year Kwame Poku and Hector Kyprianou – who are all set to leave Posh this summer – are expected to feature at some point as they prepare for a send-off from the fans.
Form Guide
Wanderers’ form has deserted them at just the wrong time to see them miss out on the play-offs.
Not helped by a lengthy injury list, the Whites have lost their last four games and seven of their last nine matches to slip out of top-six contention.
Steven Schumacher’s men will be seeking their first away win - and a 10th of the campaign - since their derby victory at Wigan after losing their last two on the road.
On the back of successive play-off finishes, Peterborough have also endured a disappointing league campaign to sit 17th in the table.
Darren Ferguson’s side was just one place above the drop zone when they lost at Charlton in mid-February but any unlikely relegation fears have been eased by just three league defeats in 13 games since then.
Posh also became the first side to successfully defend the EFL Trophy when they shocked Birmingham City at Wembley earlier this month to join Bristol City as the only side to win the competition three times.
Kick-off
Saturday 3pm
Referee
Ruebyn Ricardo takes charge of a Wanderers’ game for the first time since the Whites’ FA Cup exit at Walsall in November.
Tickets/Wanderers TV
Tickets for Saturday's game will be available to buy on the day at Peterborough, with details HERE
For those not going to London Road, audio passes will be available, as always, for UK-based supporters to listen to full commentary with Derek Clark and John McGinlay via Wanderers TV. Those based internationally can stream the game through a live video match pass on Wanderers TV.
Click HERE to purchase a pass.