Bolton Wanderers could strengthen their playoff prospects when they welcome second-bottom Accrington Stanley in Tuesday's League One rescheduled encounter at the University of Bolton Stadium.
The Wanderers will not rise higher than fifth with a win over the struggling side, who have lost four on the trot in the third tier.
Match preview
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Bolton are in a three-way battle to make the last two playoff spots in League Two with three games remaining, although Derby County and Peterborough United have played 44 games.
The Trotters are tied on 75 points with Derby, with Peterborough just two points shy of the teams in fifth and sixth following two losses in their last three games.
Ian Evatt's men are undefeated in their last six league games, albeit only securing victories in half of those games, and a triumph on Tuesday creates much-needed separation from the Rams and seventh-placed Peterborough.
Despite not finding the back of the net by more than one goal since mid-March, Bolton have made themselves hard to score against, with that defensive strength the foundation for a sustained playoff push.
They have conceded the fewest home goals in League One (12) and have the sixth-best record of everyone in the league in front of their fans, and victory on Tuesday takes them to fifth in that particular table.
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As for Accrington, the threat of relegation to League Two looms large.
They might just be three points off escaping the bottom four in the league, but an awful run of four successive defeats leaves them in a desperate situation in the campaign's final weeks.
Since beating now relegation Forest Green Rovers in early March, only four points have been accrued in the subsequent 11 games, with nine losses in that time putting John Coleman's team in danger of relegation to League Two.
The failure to keep clean sheets has been worrisome, evidenced by 74 goals conceded in 43 games — only 18th-placed Burton Albion (78) have let in more in the competition — which poses goal difference problems if they match the points of any side outside the bottom four.
Accrington lost the reverse fixture last October 3-2, with the more recent cup meeting ending 2-0 in Bolton's favour, a match that saw Sean McConville receive his marching orders after 22 minutes.
Team News
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Evatt is unlikely to change the team that beat Shrewsbury Town 1-0 on Saturday, utilising a 3-4-1-2 on Tuesday.
Josh Sheehan was the game's match-winner, and the midfield man should keep his spot in Bolton's lineup.
Coleman lost Tommy Leigh to a 43rd-minute injury at Portsmouth on Saturday, making the midfielder a doubt for the midweek clash.
The Accrington boss is expected to stick to his usual 4-2-3-1 system at the University of Bolton Stadium.
Bolton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Trafford; Jones, Williams, Johnston; Bradley, Morley, Sheehan, Williams; Dempsey; Charles, Adeboyejo
Accrington Stanley possible starting lineup:
Jensen; Clark, Rodgers, Nottingham, Sangare; Hamilton, Quirk; Longelo, Nolan, McConville; Lowe
We say: Bolton Wanderers 1-0 Accrington Stanley
Another slender victory is expected for the playoff chasers, who hope one goal is enough to secure maximum points against a side that have kept a sole clean sheet in their last 11 games.
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