Two teams vying for a place in the League One playoffs are set to come together on Tuesday night when Bolton Wanderers host Mansfield Town at the University of Bolton Stadium.
The hosts are eighth in the table with 27 points from 16 outings, only outside the top six on goal difference, while the visitors are 10th with 24 points from 15 fixtures.
Match preview
© Imago
Bolton have experienced a turbulent past few years, marked by consecutive relegations from the Championship (2018-19) and League One (2019-20), followed by a resurgence that has seen them competing for promotion from League One over the past three seasons.
Bolton narrowly missed out on promotion in 2021-22, finishing ninth with 73 points, followed by a playoff semi-final loss to Barnsley (2-1 on aggregate) in 2022-23 and a defeat to Oxford United (2-0) in the playoff final last season.
Ian Evatt, at the helm since July 2020, is once again guiding Bolton in their promotion push this season, with the team currently eighth in the table on 27 points from 16 matches, narrowly outside the playoff spots on goal difference.
They initially had a difficult start to the term, winning their opening game before failing to win any of their next four league outings, three losses and one draw, but they have since recovered with just two defeats in the following 11 league matches.
Bolton will now be heading into this game hoping they can secure a crucial victory against Mansfield, who are similarly fighting for a place in the playoffs, a side they have defeated in each of the last two meetings.
Mansfield earned promotion to the third tier of English football last season, ending a 21-year absence by finishing third in League Two, and they have made a strong start to life back in League One.
Nigel Clough's Mansfield side have had a solid start to the season, winning seven, drawing three, and losing five of their 15 league matches, placing them 10th with 24 points, just three points off the playoff spots, with at least a game in hand on those around them.
They have, however, suffered a miserable run of results in League One in their recent outings, heading into this game having lost their last three, while they are without a win in their last four league fixtures.
That leaves Clough's men aiming to secure a vital victory to end their recent poor run and close the gap on the playoff places, but they have failed to defeat Bolton in any of the past three encounters.
Team News
© Imago
Bolton will be without Kyle Dempsey due to a knee injury, while Eoin Toal and Chris Forino are also set to be sidelined with ongoing injury issues.
Dion Charles is Bolton's top scorer in the league with six goals in 16 league appearances, and he is likely to start upfront alongside Aaron Collins, who has scored in his last three appearances.
As for the visitors, Lee Gregory, who has scored seven goals in 12 league appearances, has been absent since a 1-0 loss to Wrexham at the beginning of November, but he could be in line for a return to the side here.
Ben Quinn and Stephen Quinn were both forced off in their 1-0 win against Stevenage in the FA Cup last time out, and both will remain as doubts here.
Bolton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Baxter; Jones, Santos, Johnston; Dacres-Cogley, Matete, Sheehan, Thomason, Williams; Charles, Collins
Mansfield Town possible starting lineup:
Pym; Oshilaja, Flint, Cargill; Hewitt, Boateng, Maris, Lewis, Blake-Tracy; Akins, Evans
We say: Bolton Wanderers 2-1 Mansfield Town
Mansfield are on a poor run of form in the league, having lost three and drawn one of their last four, and with Bolton having avoided defeat in their last seven home games, we believe the hosts will win here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
