Keen to end the League One season with a win in front of their fans, out-of-form Bolton Wanderers will welcome Stevenage to the Toughsheet Community Stadium on Saturday.
The Trotters will be looking for their first win in six games, while the Boro will be hoping to finish strongly after dropping five points in their last two.
Match preview
© Imago
Stephen Schumacher‘s Bolton were aiming for promotion back to the Championship at the start of the season, but after a turbulent campaign that saw them change managers part way through, they are preparing for yet another term in the third tier.
The Trotters have lost four and drawn one of their most recent five ahead of this weekend’s clash, with their singular point since April 5 coming in a 1-1 stalemate with Peterborough United last Saturday.
That point has left Schumacher’s side eighth in the table with 67 points, and with just one game left to play, they are unable to catch sixth-placed Leyton Orient, who are a comfortable eight ahead.
Regardless, the hosts will be desperate to show appreciation for their supporters by earning what would be their 21st win of the season, but after seeing their team lose three of their last four at the Toughsheet Community Stadium, fans would be forgiven for having doubts.
Three points on Saturday would take Bolton to a commendable 70, though defeat would allow ninth-placed Blackpool and 10th-placed Huddersfield Town to disappointingly drop them down the table on the final matchday.
© Imago
Meanwhile, Alex Revell‘s Stevenage are comfortable in mid-table ahead of the end of the campaign, but with just two wins across their last 11 games, they will be aware that the strength of their mid-season form is what secured their status as a League One club for 2025-26.
It is also notable that the Boro’s four most recent wins – going back to early February – were all against the now-relegated clubs: Shrewsbury Town, Cambridge United, Crawley Town, and most recently, Bristol Rovers.
That victory over the Gas came on April 21st, and while Revell’s team remain 14th with 56 points, the manager will be concerned that it is his team’s only win in their last five matches.
Additionally, the visitors have been particularly poor on the road in recent weeks, and considering that their narrow 1-0 win over Inigo Calderon‘s relegated Rovers featured Stevenage’s only goal in their four most recent away games, the travelling squad may be low on confidence ahead of this weekend’s trip.
Three points on Saturday would be enough to see the Boro leapfrog both Rotherham United and Barnsley to move up to 12th, and a top-half finish would be a commendable achievement for a club that have struggled for results at the business end of the season.
Team News
© Imago
Bolton strikers Klaidi Lolos and John McAtee will be keen to fire their team to a strong finish in front of a home crowd, and the duo will be supported by George Thomason from the top of Schumacher’s midfield.
Elsewhere, full-backs Gethin Jones and Alex Murphy will provide width as well as defensive support, while Chris Forino and Sam Inwood will be protecting Luke Southwood between the sticks.
As for Stevenage, they are likely to be without midfielder Louis Thompson after he was taken off with an injury early on against Rotherham.
In his absence, Eli King should start next to Harvey White in the centre of the park, with the pair flanked by Daniel Phillips and Dan Butler.
Up top, striker Jamie Reid will be hoping that he can defy the trend of poor attacking performances that his team have set away from home, and he will be backed up by Kyle Edwards and Elliott List on Saturday.
Bolton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Southwood; Jones, Forino, Inwood, Murphy; Schon, Matete, Randall; Thomason; Lolos, McAtee
Stevenage possible starting lineup:
Ashby-Hammond; Piergianni, Goode, Freestone; Phillips, King, White, Butler; Edwards, List; Reid
We say: Bolton Wanderers 0-0 Stevenage
Neither side have been in the strongest form in recent weeks, though Stevenage’s single goal across their last four on the road suggests that they may find it difficult to break Bolton down at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.
However, the Trotters have also been poor at home, losing three of their last four, so expect a close game between two struggling teams.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
