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Rotherham logo
League One | Gameweek 16
Jan 11, 2025 at 12.30pm UK
AESSEAL New York Stadium
Bolton logo

Rotherham
3 - 1
Bolton

Wilks (34' pen.), James (45+6'), Nombe (75')
Humphreys (15'), Evans (16')
FT(HT: 2-0)
McAtee (86')
Santos (33')

Preview: Rotherham United vs. Bolton Wanderers - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's League One clash between Rotherham United and Bolton Wanderers, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Two teams with opposing aims in League One are set to come together on Saturday afternoon when relegation-threatened Rotherham United host playoff-hopeful Bolton Wanderers at the AESSEAL New York Stadium.

The hosts are 16th in the standings with 28 points from 23 games, while the visitors are 10th in the league table with 37 points from their first 23 outings.


Match preview

Rotherham United manager Steve Evans during the EFL Sky Bet League 1 match between Wycombe Wanderers and Rotherham United at Adams Park, High Wycombe, England, on 24 August 2024. [on August 25, 2024]© Imago

Rotherham earned promotion into the Championship after finishing second in League One in 2021-22, but they survived just two years in the second tier before suffering relegation back into the third division.

They have struggled upon their return to League One, with Steve Evans's side currently sitting 16th in the table with 28 points from 23 games, after seven wins, seven draws and nine defeats, leaving them just eight points above the drop zone.

A recent upturn in form has helped Rotherham put more distance between themselves and the bottom four, with the Millers drawing two and winning one of their last three matches.

Evans will be hopeful that his team can continue that improved form with another positive result here as he looks to continue extending the gap between themselves and the relegation zone, but a difficult matchup with Bolton awaits them.

After finishing fifth and third in League One in the past two seasons, Bolton would have been aiming to once again secure at least a playoff place in search of a return to the Championship for the first time since 2018-19.

However, they have so far failed to reach the same heights from the past two campaigns, with the Trotters sitting 10th in the table with 37 points from 23 matches, after 11 wins, four draws and eight defeats.

That does leave Bolton trailing the top six by only four points, but their inconsistent run of results in recent weeks has seen them fall further behind the playoff places.

Ian Evatt's side have managed just two wins in their last six matches, suffering three defeats and a draw, but a dramatic late comeback against Exeter City, with goals in the 88th and 91st minutes to secure a 2-1 victory from a 1-0 deficit, would have boosted their confidence ahead of this game.

Rotherham United League One form:

Bolton Wanderers League One form:


Team News

Bolton Wanderers head coach Ian Evatt in October 2024.© Imago

The hosts are expected to field a similar starting side to the one that has remained undefeated in their last three outings, securing two draws and one win in that time.

Rotherham have struggled for goals so far this season, with their top scorer, Jonson Clarke-Harris boasting just six goals in 18 appearances, and Evans will be hoping for more from his likely strike partnership of Clarke-Harris and Sam Nombe here.

As for Bolton, Chris Forino is anticipated to be the only absentee due to injury issues, with the defender out of action since a 5-1 loss to Arsenal in September, leaving Evatt with no fresh injury concerns to contend with.

Elsewhere, a superb comeback victory against Exeter City in their last outing could mean Evatt opts to name the same starting team in this game, with goalscorers Aaron Collins and Aaron Morley likely to start.


Rotherham United possible starting lineup:
Phillips; Rafferty, Odofin, Jules, James; MacDonald, Humphreys, Powell; McWilliams, Clarke-Harris, Nombe

Bolton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Baxter; Forrester, Santos, Johnston; Williams, Morley, Thomason, Schon; Lolos; McAtee, Collins


SM words green background

We say: Rotherham United 1-2 Bolton Wanderers

The hosts may be enjoying an improved run of form in recent weeks, but Bolton's comeback win last time out would have given them a major boost heading into this one, leading us to believe the visitors will secure the win.


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




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Written by
Ellis Stevens

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Game History

How you voted: Rotherham vs Bolton

Rotherham United
41.4%
Draw
24.1%
Bolton Wanderers
34.5%
29
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Birmingham CityBirmingham29216251193269
2Wycombe WanderersWycombe30179456312560
3Wrexham30177645252058
4Stockport CountyStockport32169749301957
5Huddersfield TownHuddersfield30157843271652
6Leyton Orient301551046271950
7Charlton AthleticCharlton31148940301050
8Bolton WanderersBolton31155115048250
9Reading31147104643349
10Barnsley31127124343043
11Blackpool3191484544141
12Stevenage30118112931-241
13Lincoln CityLincoln311010113838040
14Rotherham UnitedRotherham31108133537-238
15Mansfield TownMansfield30115143841-338
16Exeter CityExeter30105153446-1235
17Bristol Rovers30105153246-1435
18Wigan AthleticWigan2997132730-334
19Northampton TownNorthampton3189142947-1833
20Peterborough UnitedPeterborough3187164758-1131
21Crawley TownCrawley3077163454-2028
22Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury3176183353-2027
23Burton Albion31511153248-1626
24Cambridge UnitedCambridge3158183056-2623


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