Bolton Wanderers will continue to look for their first win of the Championship season when they travel to second-tier newcomers MK Dons on Tuesday.

The Trotters have picked up just a point from their first two fixtures, while the Dons followed up an opening-day victory with defeat last time out.

MK Dons

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Having begun their first season in the Championship with an impressive 4-1 victory over Rotherham United in the first match of the season, MK Dons came crashing back down to earth last weekend as they suffered a narrow defeat to Preston North End, who also came up from League One last season.

The manager has insisted that his side did not deserve to lose to the League One playoff winners though, believing that his team did enough to secure a point.

Three points from their first two matches currently leaves Karl Robinson's side 10th in the table, just three points behind early leaders Brighton & Hove Albion, who are the only side with a 100% record remaining.

Robinson ensured that his side were not underprepared for their new challenge this season, putting his squad through 11 pre-season friendlies, losing six of the final seven.

The Dons have been particularly busy in the transfer market this summer, signing the likes of Simon Church from Charlton Athletic and Real Madrid academy product Cristian Benavente, while also bringing in a host of players on loan.

The Milton Keynes side won their promotion because of their strong attacking mindset, scoring 101 goals in the third tier last season, which was five more than champions Bristol City. They also kept a division-high 22 clean sheets.

Recent form: WWWWWL
Recent form (all competitions): LLLWWL

Bolton Wanderers

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Bolton Wanderers have made a sluggish start to the new campaign, following up a goalless draw with Derby County in their first match with a 3-0 thrashing at the hands of Middlesbrough last time out.

Neil Lennon also watched his side crash out of the League Cup to Burton Albion in the opening week of the new campaign, leaving his team without a win in three fixtures.

Although it is still early in the season, the slow start to the new term has already dropped the Trotters into the relegation zone, with only Bristol City and Rotherham United, who lost their first two fixtures, below them.

Lennon is still a relatively new manager at Bolton, only taking charge of the side midway through last season, making this his first full season with the club. He narrowly helped the club avoid relegation last season with an 18th-placed finish.

The former Celtic boss has brought in a number of players over the summer, several of whom have already featured for the side this season, including goalkeeper Ben Amos and striker Gary Madine.

Bolton were a stronger attacking side than their final league position suggested last season, scoring 54 goals in their 46 matches, but they are still waiting to open their account this campaign.

Recent form: DDLLDL
Recent form (all competitions): DWDDLL

Team News

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Rob Hall missed the match against Preston on Saturday for the home side, and will not be available even if he does recover in time for this fixture, as he is on loan from Bolton, making him ineligible to feature against his parent club.

Mark Randall is expected to sit out too as he continues to struggle with an injury from pre-season, which has prevented him turning out in the Championship so far.

The visitors also have a couple of doubts for the fixture, with Zach Clough, who has been struggling with a training knock, and Madine both needing late fitness tests.

Defender Tim Ream has been linked with a move away from the club, so Lennon will likely continue to test out some of his alternative centre-backs, having left the American out of his matchday squad at the weekend.

Derik Osede and Darren Pratley remain sidelined with ankle injury, while David Wheater (calf) and Max Clayton (knee) are still out.

MK Dons possible starting lineup:
Martin, Spence, McFadzean, Kay, Lewington, Potter, Benavente, Baker, Reeves, Bowditch, Gallagher

Bolton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Amos, Gouano, Dervite, Holding, Vela, Danns, Clough, Davies, Moxey, Feeney, Madine

Head To Head

This will be the first competitive meeting between MK Dons, who were only founded in 2004, and Bolton Wanderers.

Bolton had a number of meetings with MK Dons' predecessors, Wimbledon, sharing a 2-2 draw in their last meeting in 2001, just a couple of years before Wimbledon relocated to Milton Keynes.

We say: MK Dons 1-0 Bolton Wanderers

MK Dons have made a very confident start to life in the second tier, and were unlucky to be beaten last time out. They will be keen to quickly make amends against an out-of-sorts Bolton side. By contrast, Bolton have been lacking in front of goal, and will struggle to threaten the home side's defence without a big turnaround this week.

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