Preview:Bolton Wanderers vs AFC Wimbledon - prediction, team news, lineups

Bolton Wanderers and AFC Wimbledon are set to meet at the Toughsheet Community Stadium on Saturday afternoon for a matchday seven clash in League One.

The hosts are unbeaten in their last seven games in normal time, while the visitors have lost all of their last three matches across all competitions.

Match preview

Bolton have consistently battled for promotion from League One ever since returning to the third division after placing third in League Two in 2020-21.

The Trotters placed ninth in 2021-22, fifth in 2022-23, third in 2023-24 and eighth in 2024-25, with a particularly dismal six-game winless run at the end of the campaign ruining their chances of a playoff finish.

Despite their poor end to the campaign, the Bolton board kept faith in manager Steven Schumacher heading into the new season, and their faith appeared to be paying off as the Trotters won all of their five pre-season matches.

However, Bolton have had a mixed start to the 2025-26 term, with two wins, one defeat and five draws, while one of those draws ended in penalty defeat to Sheffield Wednesday in the first round of the EFL Cup.

With one win, four draws and one loss in the league, Bolton currently sit 14th in the League One standings with seven points, leaving them already five points adrift of the playoff spots, leaving Schumacher's side desperately needing to improve their form to avoid falling further behind.

Bolton's biggest problem is undoubtedly their inability to turn draws into victories at this early stage of the season, though they are a difficult side to defeat, as highlighted by their current seven game unbeaten run in normal time.

The hosts will be favourites to finally end their four-game drawing streak in League One when they meet AFC Wimbledon on Saturday, with the visitors enduring a three-game losing run heading into this clash.

AFC Wimbledon secured their return to the third division for the first time since 2021-22 as they won the League Two playoffs last season, beating Notts County 2-0 in the semi-finals and Walsall 1-0 in the final after an initial fifth-placed finish in the league standings.

While Johnnie Jackson's side made an impressive return to the third tier, with three wins and two defeats from their first five league fixtures - also beating Gillingham on penalties in the EFL Cup first round during that run - their form has taken a considerable turn for the worse in recent outings.

The Wombles have now lost all of their last three games coming into Saturday's game, defeated 2-1 by Reading in the EFL Cup second round, 3-2 by Bradford City in League One and 5-1 by Stevenage in their first Southern Group E fixture in the EFL Trophy.

Jackson will be eager for his side to snap that losing run on Saturday, but the Wombles do have a poor record in this fixture, with Bolton winning two and drawing four of their last six meetings.

Bolton Wanderers League One form:

Bolton Wanderers form (all competitions):

AFC Wimbledon League One form:

AFC Wimbledon form (all competitions):

Team News

Bolton Wanderers will be unable to call upon the services of Josh Sheehan and Eoin Toal as the pair have been called up for international duty with Wales and Northern Ireland respectively.

Youngster Sam Inwood is also unavailable due to joining Northern Ireland's Under 21 squad, though the 19-year-old defender has only featured once this season for the Trotters.

Mason Burstow is Bolton's top scorer so far this season with three goals in seven appearances, and the striker is expected to lead the line on Saturday, with Ibrahim Cissoko and Amario Cozier-Duberry partnering him from the wings.

Meanwhile, AFC Wimbledon are without Callum Maycock, Ryan Johnson and Myles Hippolyte due to international involvement.

Mathew Stevens has been arguably Wimbledon's standout performer so far this season, with four goals and one assist in seven games, and the forward should start in attack for the visitors.

Bolton Wanderers possible starting lineup:

Sharman-Lowe; Dacres-Cogley, Christie, Johnston, Conway; Erhahon, Simons; Cozier-Duberry, Morley, Cissoko; Burstow

AFC Wimbledon possible starting lineup:

Bishop; Asiimwe, Ogundere, Lewis, Bauer, Seddon; Browne, Smith, Reeves, Sasu; Stevens

We say: Bolton Wanderers 2-1 AFC Wimbledon

Bolton may have drawn all of their last four league games, but the visitors are in a miserable run of three straight defeats, leading us to expect the hosts to snap their stalemate streak with a win.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.