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

Boxing Day brings a tasty League One encounter to the LNER Stadium as Lincoln City host Bolton Wanderers.

The Trotters are looking to close the gap on league leaders Portsmouth while the Imps are eight points off the last playoff spot.

Match preview

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Lincoln saw their five-match unbeaten streak come to an end after a 3-1 defeat against Derby County at Pride Park last time out.

Michael Skubala's side are now winless in three straight League One matches, having drawn against Wigan Athletic and Reading before the loss to Derby.

Lincoln City sit in ninth place on 32 points, having eight wins, eight draws and seven defeats, while trailing sixth-placed Stevenage, who occupy the last spot in the promotion playoffs, by eight points.

The hosts have four wins, four draws and two losses in 10 home league matches this season, but are looking to end a four-match winless streak at the LNER Stadium on Tuesday, last winning a home League One match on October 24 against Charlton Athletic.

The Imps are coming up against an opponent that has got the better of them in recent meetings, having gone without a win in their last five League One matches against them, last winning a league encounter against the Trotters in January 2020.

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Bolton Wanderers picked up a 3-2 victory over Leyton Orient at Toughsheet Community Stadium in their last League One match to end a three-match winless streak.

The win left Ian Evatt's men in third place on 42 points, two points behind second-placed Peterborough United, who are in line for promotion, and seven points behind league leaders Portsmouth.

The Trotters have five wins, two draws and two losses away from home this season, but will hope to prevent a three-match winless run on the road after losing 2-0 to Portsmouth and playing out a goalless draw against Oxford United in their last two away matches.

The last time both teams met, Bolton came out on top 3-0 at Toughsheet Community Stadium in August, and they have not lost in their last two trips to the LNER Stadium.

Team News

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The hosts have a fully-fit squad for this fixture with no injury worries or suspensions.

Daniel Mandroiu netted Lincoln's only goal in the loss to Derby County and should retain his spot on the left side of an attacking trio that is expected to include Jovon Makama and Ethan Hamilton.

The visitors are unable to call upon defender George Johnston and forward Dan Nlundulu due to knee and hamstring injuries, respectively.

Jon Dadi Bodvarsson found the net last time out and is expected to start once again in attack alongside Dion Charles. 

Lincoln City possible starting lineup:

Jensen; O'Connor, Jackson, Mitchell; Sorensen, Erhahon, Bishop, Burroughs; Mandroiu, Makama, Hamilton

Bolton Wanderers possible starting lineup:

Baxter; Jones, Forrester, Toal; Cogley, Thomason, Sheehan, Dempsey, Iredale; Bodvarsson, Charles

We say: Lincoln City 1-2 Bolton Wanderers

This is a tough one to call, with both sides struggling to show enough consistency in recent matches. However, we have to consider Bolton's dominance in recent meetings between the two and their superior position in the table.

We are predicting a tight match, but the Trotters should edge it out in the end.

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