The first of three games Bolton Wanderers must play without their manager on the touchline, the Trotters host Burton Albion at the Toughsheet Community Stadium in League One on Saturday afternoon.
Prior to the international break, the hosts went down to Aston Villa's Under-21s on penalties in the EFL Trophy, while their out-of-sorts visitors were beaten 3-1 by Bristol Rovers for their fifth loss in a row.
Match preview
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As Bolton's trip to Stevenage - scheduled for October 12 - was pushed back due to international call-ups, head coach Ian Evatt has had two weeks to reflect on his unsavoury actions that landed him a three-match touchline ban, starting with this weekend's visit of Burton.
The Trotters head coach squared up to Shrewsbury Town's Morgan Feeney after their 2-2 draw on October 5 - where his side fought back from two goals down to steal a point - and he accepted his punishment after admitting that his behaviour amounted to improper conduct.
However, Evatt did oversee operations on October 8, when Bolton were indebted to a 79th-minute Victor Adeboyejo goal for rescuing a 1-1 draw with Aston Villa's Under-21s in the EFL Trophy, although they subsequently lost the customary penalty shootout for an additional point.
Knockout matters are not of huge concern to Evatt and co, though, and Bolton's upturn in League One fortunes has been particularly pleasing; after losing three on the bounce from August 24 to September 14, the Trotters have now accrued 10 points from the last 12 on offer.
The hosts' mini-revival has seen them shoot up to 14th place in the League One table, now just three points adrift of Wycombe Wanderers in fifth place and two behind Stockport County in the final playoff spot, but conceding 10 goals in their last four home games in the division is an unsightly statistic ahead of the visit of Burton.
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Bolton's propensity to ship multiple goals at home pales in comparison to the visitors' dreadful overall form, though, as Burton arrive at the Toughsheet Community Stadium at risk of seeing their losing streak extend to six matches across all competitions.
Mark Robinson's side are still searching for their maiden league win of the 2024-25 League One campaign after nine games without a triumph, playing out four draws while suffering five defeats, including in each of their last four games in the third tier.
Burton's most recent beating at the hands of Bristol Rovers was particularly excruciating; after going ahead early doors through Danilo Orsi and holding their advantage until the break, they conceded three times in the second half and saw substitute Terence Vancooten sent off just 10 minutes after his introduction.
Only one-point Cambridge United have performed worse than the 23rd-placed visitors in the current League One campaign, putting their seven-year stay in the third tier in huge jeopardy, and their only victory from 12 competitive games so far this season came against Leicester City's Under-21s in the EFL Trophy in August.
To rub salt into the Burton wounds, they are now winless in four straight games against Bolton after going unbeaten in their first seven competitive meetings with the Trotters, who prevailed 1-0 in their New Year's Day meeting courtesy of a Jasper Moon own goal.
Team News
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Bolton did not emerge from the international period unscathed, as defender Eoin Toal suffered a nasty clash of heads during Northern Ireland's UEFA Nations League clash with Bulgaria and was taken to hospital for further assessment.
Toal's availability for the Burton visit is clouded in uncertainty, but the banned Evatt has also received two defensive boosts, as Will Forrester and Gethin Jones - neither of whom have made an appearance this season - could be fast-tracked into the team to replace their stricken teammate.
Carlos Mendes Gomes (Achilles), Jordi Osei-Tutu (calf) and Chris Forino (hamstring) remain absent for the Trotters, who are also waiting to learn whether goalkeeper Nathan Baxter will be back from a muscular problem in time for the weekend.
Speaking of suspensions, Burton defender Vancooten sits on the naughty step after his sending off in the recent loss to Bristol Rovers, although that will have no impact on the visitors' starting XI.
Vancooten's fellow centre-back Geraldo Bajrami is still on the long road to recovery from the ACL injury that he picked up at the start of the season, and it remains to be seen if Billy Bodin's calf issue will let up in time for Saturday.
Plucking a few players from Chelsea's academy system this summer, the visitors should start with ex-Blues duo Charlie Webster and Dylan Williams, but attacking loanee Ronnie Stutter may only make the bench.
Bolton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Southwood; Johnston, Forrester, Santos; Dacres-Cogley, Thomason, Dempsey, Sheehan, Schon; Adeboyejo, Charles
Burton Albion possible starting lineup:
Crocombe; Akoto, Bannon, Sweeney, Williams; Watt, Chauke; Kalinauskas, Webster, Whitfield; Orsi
We say: Bolton Wanderers 3-0 Burton Albion
The Trotters may have failed to bolt the back door shut at home in recent weeks, but even without Evatt barking orders from the touchline, Bolton should not face many obstacles en route to a convincing win here.
The international break did come at a good time for a defensively suspect Burton side, but Robinson's side will surely return home battered and bruised as Bolton set their sights on the top half.
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Ben Knapton
