MX23RW : Thursday, January 9 20:29:22| >> :120:13274:13274:
[monks data]
Bolton logo
League One | Gameweek 44
Apr 13, 2024 at 3pm UK
University of Bolton Stadium
Portsmouth

Bolton
1 - 1
Portsmouth

Collins (36')
Toal (32'), Santos (88'), Jerome (90+1')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Kamara (7')
Lang (14')

Preview: Bolton Wanderers vs. Portsmouth - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's League One clash between Bolton Wanderers and Portsmouth, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Portsmouth will attempt to secure promotion to the Championship when they face Bolton Wanderers in Saturday's clash at Toughsheet Community Stadium.

Meanwhile, the Trotters will be hoping to claim all three points to boost their own chances of winning promotion from League One.


Match preview

Bolton Wanderers manager Ian Evatt on January 7, 2024© Reuters

Having racked up 81 points from 42 matches, Bolton are sitting in third spot and two points adrift of second-placed Derby County, who have played a game more.

After thrashing Reading 5-2 in their most recent home outing, Bolton went on to claim three more points in last Saturday's away clash with Bristol Rovers.

The Trotters played out a goalless first half against the Gas, before Archie Collins and Aaron Morley found the net to secure a 2-0 victory.

Although they face a tough test this weekend, Bolton have managed to avoid defeat in nine consecutive league games since losing to Bristol Rovers in December.

Ian Evatt's side have the chance to record four successive home league wins for the first time since February 2023, having beaten Cambridge United, Oxford United and Reading in their last three home outings.

Portsmouth are currently sitting top of the League One table with a seven-point cushion to Derby and an eight-point advantage over Bolton.

Pompey extended their unbeaten run to 15 matches with a commanding 3-1 victory in last Saturday's home game against Shrewsbury Town.

A Chey Dunkley own goal was cancelled out by Jordan Shipley, before Colby Bishop netted a brace to secure Portsmouth's fourth victory in five matches.

John Mousinho's side know that they can seal promotion and the league title with a win on Saturday, but even if they fail to collect all three points, they could still be promoted depending on results elsewhere.

Although they are set to face the division's second-highest scorers, Pompey will still be confident of producing a strong defensive display after conceding just 13 goals in 21 away league matches this season.

Bolton Wanderers League One form:

Portsmouth League One form:


Team News

Bolton Wanderers' Kyle Dempsey and teammates before the match on January 7, 2024© Reuters

Ricardo Santos and Josh Sheehan picked up calf and hamstring issues in the recent win over Bristol Rovers, but the pair are expected to be ready to start Saturday's crucial fixture.

Bolton's top scorer Dion Charles will only be fit for a place on the bench, having been sidelined for the last two months due to a knee injury.

Goalkeeper Nathan Baxter will retain his place after returning from injury to keep a clean sheet against the Gas last weekend.

As for the visitors, they are still unable to call upon Tom McIntyre, Regan Poole, Tom Lowery, Joe Morrell, Alex Robertson and Terry Devlin.

Christian Saydee could be recalled to the starting lineup after dropping down to the bench for the win over Shrewsbury.

Bishop will be looking to continue his impressive form, having scored 20 goals in 40 league matches this season, leaving him three goals short of the division's top scorer, Charlton Athletic's Alfie May.


Bolton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Baxter; Toal, Santos, Iredale; Dacres-Cogley, Thomason, Sheehan, Maghoma, Ogbeta; Collins, Bodvarsson

Portsmouth possible starting lineup:
Norris; Swanson, Raggett, Shaughnessy, Ogilvie; Pack, Moxon; Kamara, Saydee, Lane; Bishop


SM words green background

We say: Bolton Wanderers 1-1 Portsmouth

Pompey may won four of their previous five matches, but we think that they will have to settle for a draw, with Bolton currently enjoying a nine-game unbeaten home league run.



For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.




ID:541136:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect10054:
Written by
Ben Sully

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Game History

How you voted: Bolton vs Portsmouth

Bolton Wanderers
54.2%
Draw
4.2%
Portsmouth
41.7%
24
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
General view of Portsmouth's Fratton Park from March 2017
Read Next:
Saturday's League One predictions including Portsmouth vs. Shrewsbury Town
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Birmingham CityBirmingham23165241172453
2Wycombe WanderersWycombe25156450272351
3Wrexham25156437181951
4Huddersfield TownHuddersfield24145537191847
5Barnsley2512673933642
6Reading2412573933641
7Stockport CountyStockport25108737271038
8Leyton Orient24114932221037
9Mansfield TownMansfield2311483126537
10Bolton WanderersBolton2311483534137
11Charlton AthleticCharlton239772721634
12Lincoln CityLincoln258892830-232
13Stevenage238781820-231
14Exeter CityExeter2494112831-331
15Blackpool247983235-330
16Rotherham UnitedRotherham237792123-228
17Wigan AthleticWigan2376102123-227
18Northampton TownNorthampton2568112439-1526
19Peterborough UnitedPeterborough2474134146-525
20Bristol Rovers2474132238-1625
21Crawley TownCrawley2355132443-1920
22Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury2445152444-2017
23Cambridge UnitedCambridge2445152243-2117
24Burton Albion2428142038-1814


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!