Preview: Lincoln City vs. Bolton Wanderers - prediction, team news, lineups

Lincoln City will be aiming to bounce back from their defeat on Boxing Day when they host Bolton Wanderers in League One on Friday evening.

The visitors, meanwhile, will hope to hold onto their spot inside the playoff positions.

Match preview

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Having lost their former manager Michael Appleton to the services of Blackpool earlier this year, Lincoln have stabilised themselves successfully under the tutelage of Mark Kennedy so far.

The former Liverpool winger is embarking on only his second managerial role after a brief spell with Macclesfield Town in 2020, but he has made the Imps a tough outfit to beat during his early days at the club.

However, the 46-year-old was less than impressed with his side's performance during their 3-0 defeat to Burton Albion on Boxing Day, which was only their relegation-threatened opponents' fourth league victory of the season.

Lincoln had only lost four league games all season until recent weeks, but just one win in their last seven matches in League One means that they will face Bolton sitting at most six points clear of danger.

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Bolton, meanwhile, were always expected to improve after finishing in a respectable ninth place in their first season back in the English third tier last season.

Former Barrow boss Ian Evatt was the man to guide them away from the depths of League Two, establishing a more attractive style of football at the University of Bolton Stadium in the process, and the 41-year-old has not compromised his methods despite managing at a higher level.

The Trotters played out a goalless draw against fellow playoff contenders Derby County on Tuesday, with neither team really looking like going the extra mile to claim all three points.

That is unlikely to be the case at Sincil Bank, where Evatt's side meet Lincoln, who may be up against it to claim a positive result based on recent form.

Team News

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Lincoln will remain without central defender Lewis Montsma, who is out for the foreseeable future due to sustaining a cruciate ligament rupture.

Kennedy may be contemplating making several changes after lambasting his team following their 3-0 defeat to Burton, with central midfielder Teddy Bishop likely to return to the starting XI.

Bolton, meanwhile, could restore Elias Kachunga to their attack after firing blanks against Derby last time out.

Evatt will be acutely aware that his team have had 24 hours less rest than their forthcoming opponents, although he will have every faith that his side's superior quality will be a greater factor in terms of determining the result.

Lincoln City possible starting lineup:

Rushworth; O'Connor, Jackson, Walsh; Poole, Bishop, Virtue, Roughan; Vernam, Hopper, Diamond

Bolton Wanderers possible starting lineup:

Trafford; Toal, Aimson, Johnston; Bradley, Morley, Sheehan, Iredale; Kachunga; Charles, Afolayan

We say: Lincoln City 0-1 Bolton Wanderers

Lincoln's form has dipped in recent weeks, and we expect Bolton to edge a tight match as neither team are involved in many goal-fests.

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