With two games of the regular season left to play, Bolton Wanderers will look to take a huge step towards sealing a top-six finish in the League One table on Saturday, when they entertain Fleetwood Town.
The Trotters currently find themselves fifth with a two-point lead over seventh-placed Peterborough United, after a disappointing defeat in midweek, while a positive run of results has seen the visitors sneak into the top half recently.
Match preview
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Thanks to a strong season under the management of Ian Evatt, Bolton Wanderers have consistently found themselves battling in and around the playoff places, notching up 75 points in their 44 games thus far, largely thanks to their fine defensive record with only second-placed Ipswich Town having conceded fewer than the 34 goals they have shipped in England's third tier.
After beating League One leaders Plymouth Argyle 4-0 at Wembley in April to secure the EFL Trophy, the Lancashire outfit took huge steps towards wrapping up their top-six finish by taking a league unbeaten run to six matches with 1-0 triumphs over Exeter City, Oxford United and Shrewsbury Town separated by 1-1 draws against Cambridge United and Burton Albion.
On the back of that latest triumph over Shrewsbury last weekend, in which Josh Sheehan netted the decisive goal on the hour mark, the Trotters most recently hosted Accrington Stanley in their game in hand on Tuesday with the aim of moving within touching distance of sealing a playoff place, but they were unable to add further to their points tally, being on the wrong end of a 1-0 defeat on that occasion as Ethan Hamilton hit the only goal of the game on the stroke of half time.
While they did not lose much ground given most sides around them were not in action in midweek, that loss does mean that Evatt's men remain just two points clear of seventh-placed Peterborough United and only ahead of sixth-placed Derby County on goal difference, and they will be desperate to make a return to winning ways on Saturday to ensure they are not overtaken in the final two games.
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Their visitors, meanwhile, are seeking to strengthen their bid for a top-half finish after enjoying a climb up the table in recent weeks.
Scott Brown's side have enjoyed a relatively positive campaign in England's third tier, consistently doing enough to remain clear of the threat of relegation, and they moved with touching distance of the top half with back-to-back victories over Derby County and Lincoln City in late March.
Those hopes did take a hit as the Cod Army went on to draw with Exeter City and suffer defeats at the hands of Cambridge United and Bristol Rovers, but they would make a return to winning ways in style with a 5-2 beating of Accrington Stanley away from home, as Jack Marriott hit a hat-trick alongside goals from Promise Omochere and Phoenix Patterson, before they only managed to take a point from a goalless draw away at Forest Green Rovers.
Brown's men then hosted MK Dons most recently at the weekend, and they successfully leapfrogged Shrewsbury Town and moved up to 12th spot with a 1-0 win thanks to another goal from Omochere on the stroke of half time.
Now just two points worse off than Lincoln City in the top 10, but with Shrewsbury just a point behind with a game in hand, Fleetwood will be keen to end the season on a high with two more triumphs to ensure they achieve the best possible finish.
Team News
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Bolton Wanderers will remain without key defender and captain Ricardo Santos, who has missed their last six league games through injury, while full-back Jack Iredale is also sidelined, meaning Evatt will likely stick with an unchanged back three of Gethin Jones, MJ Williams and George Johnston with Conor Bradley and Declan John operating as wing-backs.
Striker Jon Dadi Bodvarsson is the Trotters' other enforced absentee, but they still have plenty of options in attack, with Dion Charles bound to again lead the line having netted 20 goals in all competitions so far this season, including 16 in League One.
The likes of Dan Nlundulu, Victor Adeboyejo, Cameron Jerome and Shola Shoretire will all fight to join him in a front two, while Kyle Dempsey will again provide support in an advanced role ahead of Aaron Morley and Josh Sheehan in the engine room.
After their 1-0 victory over MK Dons last weekend, Fleetwood should only make minimal changes to their starting XI on Saturday, although defender Josh Earl is expected to miss out after coming off early in that game, with Toto Nsiala expected to come into the back four alongside Brendan Sarpong-Wiredu in his absence.
Further forward, Josh Vela will again join Lewis Warrington in the engine room, while winger Promise Omochere will continue to play an important role in the attacking unit, having scored twice in the last three games to take his tally to five league goals for the season.
He, alongside Jayden Stockley and Phoenix Patterson, will support frontman Jack Marriott, who will hope to continue adding to his tally after netting a hat-trick in their beating of Accrington Stanley.
Bolton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Trafford; Jones, Williams, Johnston; Bradley, Sheehan, Morley, John; Dempsey; Charles, Adeboyejo
Fleetwood Town possible starting lineup:
McMullan; Rooney, Sarpong-Wiredu, Nsiala, Johnston; Vela, Warrington; Omochere, Stockley, Patterson; Marriott
We say: Bolton Wanderers 2-1 Fleetwood Town
Bolton will certainly be disappointed by their midweek defeat, while Fleetwood arrive without pressure and in a positive run of form, but with the need for three points to remain in the top six, we back Evatt's side to just get over the line on Saturday.
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Top tip
Sam Varley
