Playoff hopefuls Bolton Wanderers welcome Charlton Athletic to the Toughsheet Community Stadium for Tuesday's rearranged League One fixture.
The game was originally scheduled for January 11 but was postponed owing to the Addicks' progression to the Emirates FA Cup third round.
Match preview
© Imago
Amid mounting frustration among their fan base, Bolton enter this encounter with high expectations, seeking a victory to bring stability after a run of inconsistent results.
Having alternated between wins and losses in their previous four league matches, a 2-2 draw against relegation-threatened Cambridge United at the Toughsheet on Saturday only aggravated tensions among supporters, who are becoming increasingly impatient as they await the club's return to the second tier after their relegation to League One in the 2018-19 campaign.
The Trotters had targeted Championship qualification this season after missing out on the playoffs in the previous two terms, but recent inconsistency leaves them in ninth, with 38 points from 25 matches, three behind sixth-placed Stockport County, who have played one more game.
Manager Ian Evatt has come under scrutiny for his approach, with fans and pundits alike questioning his possession-based tactics as an unsustainable path to achieving their goal.
However, following the draw against Cambridge, the 43-year-old remains optimistic, expressing faith in his players and their style of play, emphasising that there is still plenty to play for this season and insisting that his performance should be judged at the end of the campaign
Knowing that a win in Tuesday's rescheduled clash would bring his team level on points with Stockport in the final playoff spot, Evatt will be hopeful his approach delivers three points, with Bolton drawing confidence from their recent record against the visitors, having recorded victories in five of the last seven encounters despite failing to win in the most recent two.
© Imago
Meanwhile, Charlton, who secured a 2-0 triumph in the reverse fixture, will aim for their first-ever consecutive victories against the hosts since the period between August and October 2006, when they recorded 2-0 and 1-0 wins on home soil in the Premier League and EFL Cup, respectively.
While their last away win comes more recently in comparison to that — a 2-1 victory in January 2017 — it remains their only success in the last 12 such competitive meetings, which also include six draws and five losses
The Addicks enter this clash following back-to-back defeats in all competitions, with a 4-2 loss to Rotherham United last time out ending a six-game unbeaten streak in the league.
Having played 24 games, Charlton sit 12th with 34 points, six behind sixth-placed Stockport, and a victory on Tuesday would not only bring Nathan Jones's side closer to the final playoff spot but also extend their unbeaten run against Bolton to three competitive matches for the first time since their eight-match streak between 2013 and 2017.
Team News
© Imago
Evatt deployed Aaron Collins in attack, with John McAtee and Joel Randall supporting in a two-man advanced midfield last time out, but the setup resulted in only two goals, one of which was scored by the opposition. after Zeno Ibsen Rossi put the ball into his own net.
While McAtee got on the scoresheet in that encounter, Collins failed to do so, potentially prompting the manager to revert to his preferred two-man strike partnership for Tuesday's clash.
Ricardo Santos looked off the pace against Cambridge and was substituted at halftime due to an ongoing hip issue, leaving the defender doubtful for this fixture, while Will Forrester, who replaced him in that match, could earn his third start in four league games.
After conceding four league goals in a single outing for the first time under his management, Jones did not hold back in criticising his team's chaotic defending, singling out Lloyd Jones as a culprit in that performance, but that may not be enough to see the defender dropped, as he has started the last six matches in the third tier.
The manager could consider bolstering his defensive setup after deploying a three-man backline in their last game, which may leave room for Joshua Edwards to complete a five-man defensive structure while Thierry Small drops deeper.
Miles Leaburn and Tyreece Campbell could continue their partnership in attack for a third consecutive league match, with the former aiming to score in back-to-back games after netting against Rotherham.
Bolton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Southwood; Forrester, Jones, Johnston; Cogley, Morley, Thomason, Schon; Randall; Collins, McAtee
Charlton Athletic possible starting lineup:
Maynard-Brewer; Mitchell, Jones, Gillesphey, Edwards, Small; Coventry, Docherty, Berry; Campbell, Leaburn
We say: Bolton Wanderers 2-1 Charlton Athletic
Bolton, with their strong home record against Charlton and the pressure to secure a playoff spot, are likely to bounce back from recent inconsistencies.
Meanwhile, the visitors, struggling on the road and coming off two defeats, face a tough challenge, making a closely contested win for the Trotters the likely outcome.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Adeyeye Oluwapelumi
