Preview: Bolton Wanderers

22 April 2022

The home fixture programme for Cheltenham Town's League One campaign is brought to a close on Saturday against Bolton Wanderers (kick-off: 3pm).

With one game left to go at Cambridge United next weekend, the final home action of this season sees the Robins take on another former Premier League outfit in front of a good crowd.

There will certainly be a celebratory feeling around the stadium as the players and supporters come together one last time at home to hail an excellent campaign.

With a large attendance expected, fans are advised to leave plenty of time getting into the stadium and when collecting tickets. You can find out more about this in the match guide for fans online.

Tickets for the game are still on sale. You can buy online and if you purchase before midnight on Friday you can save £2 on matchday prices. There's limited seating available but still plenty of room in the standing areas.

At 2.30pm the end of season awards will be taking place. Fans are encouraged to be inside the stadium to watch the awards as the winning players are presented with their trophies during the warm up.

Then at half time the double winning Cheltenham Town Ladies squad will be parading on the pitch to celebrate their fantastic achievements this season.

Team news

Wing back duo Ben Williams and Matty Blair will miss the game because of injuries.

Michael Duff otherwise has a fully fit squad to pick from including Tottenham Hotspur loanee Kion Etete (pictured).

Media talk

Michael Duff has highlighted the quality throughout Bolton's squad ahead of this weekend's meeting.

"I think they are unbeaten in six and have had three defeats since January so they're a big team in this League - look at the players who aren't in the team," he said when speaking on iFollow.

"You've got full internationals coming off the bench so it shows you the strength in depth, even with the injuries that they do have as well."

Alfie May has meanwhile also been speaking on iFollow to the press to preview a game he scored two goals in earlier in the season.

Bolton boss Ian Evatt wants his team to finish the season well.

He said on their website: “We want to finish strongly. Losing only three games in more or less half a season is positive. That’s promotion form and we want to continue that.

“I think they (Cheltenham) have had a really good season as well. With the financial constraints Michael (Duff) works under he’s done really well.

“They’re well coached and well organised, so it will be a really challenging game.”

Opposition

No matter what happens in the two final remaining fixtures this season, Bolton will be finishing in either 9th, 10th or 11th in League One this season. It marks good progress having returned to this level this season after a one season stay in League Two.

The former Premier League side were playing European football just a few years ago and are aiming to get back into the Championship. Though that will have to wait until next season, they already boast a squad most teams at this level would fear with the quality they have on offer.

They go into Saturday's game six unbeaten and have leading goal scorer Oladapo Afolayan in contention to play as he aims to add to his 12 goals this season. Also in attack they feature Sierra Leone international Amadou Bakayoko, while Iceland international Jón Daði Böðvarsson, who played for his country in their EURO 2016 upset over England, is another option in their forward line.

Their attacking threat is extended by the presence of ex-Borussia Mönchengladbach attacker Elias Kachunga, Xavier Amaechi, who is on loan from Hamburger SV and Northern Ireland international Dion Charles who transferred to Bolton in January from league rivals Accrington Stanley.

Wales international Declan John and fellow Welshman Gethin Jones are part of a defensive back-line supported by goalkeeper James Trafford, while in midfield another Welshman, MJ Williams, is available alongside the likes of Kieran Sadlier and the former Rochdale product Aaron Morley.

The manager: Ian Evatt

Ian Evatt is coming to the end of his second season in charge of the Trotters. Having led his employers to promotion from League Two last season he has guided them to a top half of the table finish in League One.

Previously he was in charge at Barrow, who he helped win the National League title in 2020, while he also had a brief stint in charge in a caretaker role at Chesterfield previously, but he couldn't save them from getting relegated out of the Football League.

As a player he was a central defender who played for Derby County, QPR, Chesterfield, Northampton Town and Blackpool.

Match programme

The final match programme of the season will be on sale around the stadium. It's available to buy for £3.

January signing Charlie Brown is the big interview as he reflects on his career journey so far and a big season for him next season at a club he's enjoying being a part of despite his early injury frustrations.

There's also an interview with Mattie Pollock, words from Michael Duff and chairman David Bloxham, and much more in this weekend's issue.

As well as being available to buy on the day, the programme can be bought online.

Tickets

If you have pre-paid for tickets these can be collected for the Autovillage Stand, Optimising IT Stand, Paddock and Tunnel from the matchday collection point in the car park next to the bowling club. For the Colin Farmer Stand these will be available to collect from next to the Parklands turnstiles.

Choosing to buy on the day? There's limited seating available in the Colin Farmer Stand but you can enquire into any tickets for this stand from next to the Parklands turnstiles. Similarly for the seated Autovillage Stand it's close to being completely sold out but the ticket office may have space available.

If you are buying for the standing areas, then please visit the matchday sales point in the car park next to the bowls club.

The cheapest way to buy tickets for home matches is to buy before midnight the day before the game online. By doing this you can save £2 on prices on the day.

Previous meeting

Bolton twice came from behind to earn a point when Cheltenham travelled to the University of Bolton Stadium earlier in the season.

Alfie May scored two great team goals to twice give his team the lead. His first came in the 14th minute however Xavier Amaechi levelled midway through the first half.

Just before half time May struck again in first half stoppage time. After the break however Bolton hit back when Elias Kachunga scored just before the hour mark.

Coverage

Listen: Buy an audio match pass online for £2.50 and listen to full match commentary on iFollow

Social media: Follow @CTFCofficial on Twitter for updates throughout the day and game. Check out the club's Facebook page and Instagram account for score updates

Website: Visit the club website to read the match report and to check out the post-match reaction

Highlights: iFollow will carry extended highlights of the game. You will also be able to watch shorter highlights on YouTube, Sky Sports and Quest

Match Reports

Report & highlights: Robins 1-2 Bolton Wanderers

23 April 2022

Subscribe to watch

Cheltenham Town v Bolton Wanderers - Extended highlights - Sat 23rd April 2022

Extended highlights of Cheltenham Town v Bolton Wanderers, Sat 23rd April 2022 in the Sky Bet League One

Bolton Wanderers prevailed 2-1 to condemn Cheltenham Town to their first home defeat in two months at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium.

Kieran Sadlier gave Bolton the lead on 57 minutes when he turned Jon Bodvarsson’s cross past Scott Flinders at his near post.

Oladapo Afolayan was upended inside the box by Lewis Freestone and Amadou Bakayoko converted the resulting spot-kick to double Bolton’s advantage with 15 minutes remaining.

Aaron Ramsey scored his first goal for the Robins in the 89th minute to set-up an electrifying climax but Bolton held onto secure the win.

Michael Duff rung the chances following Monday’s 3-0 defeat at Lincoln City. George Lloyd was deployed at right-wing back, Mattie Pollock returned to the defence and Liam Sercombe and Elliot Bonds were reinstated into midfield.

Cheltenham offered promise in the opening exchanges – pinning Bolton deep inside their own half and constructing several moves down the right. Bolton found their groove soon after and suffocated Cheltenham with their high press at times.

Will Boyle looked to shepherd the ball out of play but Bodvarsson showed great determination to steal the ball at the by-line. The Icelandic forward squared for Sadlier but the Bolton winger blazed a golden chance over the crossbar.

Afolayan thundered his volley from range wide of the target and Flinders thwarted Sadlier at his near post as Bolton looked the likeliest side to open the scoring in a first half with limited opportunities.

But the best chance of the first period fell to Alfie May, who was unable to add to his tally of 21 league goals. Etete elegantly knocked the ball into space and slotted a beautiful through ball into the path of May. He was tentative when baring down on goal and James Trafford made an impressive save to deny him from close-range.

Bolton got their breakthrough shortly before the hour-mark when Sadlier prodded the ball into the bottom corner at the near post. Morley floated his corner into the danger area, Boyle just missed his header, and Bodvarsson crossed low for Sadlier to knock his finish past Flinders.

A heated battle between Freestone and Afolayan was developing throughout the second half. Freestone was penalised for hauling down Afolayan inside the penalty area and substitute Bakayoko stepped up to double their lead with a confident finish from 12 yards.

Ramsey was introduced during the final 10 minutes and scored his first goal for the club to reduce the arrears in the final minute of normal time. He set out on a slaloming run before dispatching an unerring strike past Trafford, which set-up an intense finale.

Cheltenham went in desperate search of an equaliser with the home crowd roaring them on, but despite the five minutes of additional time, the Robins succumbed to just their second home defeat of 2022.

CHELTENHAM TOWN: S Flinders; G Lloyd (C Brown 82), S Long, M Pollock, W Boyle (c), L Freestone; L Sercombe (a Ramsey 86), C Wright, E Bonds; K Etete (A Williams 82), A May.

SUBS NOT USED: O Evans, C Raglan, R Hutchinson, E Chapman, A Ramsey, C Brown, A Williams.

BOLTON WANDERERS: J Trafford; G Jones (c), W Aimson, G Johnston; K Sadlier (A Bakayoko 69), J Williams (K Dempsey 46), A Morley, D John; O Afolayan; D Charles (E Kachunga 69), J Bodvarsson.

SUBS NOT USED: J Dixon, A Baptiste, X Amaechi, L Gordon.

Attendance: 5,228 (1,378)

Referee: Neil Hair

Ticket News

Tickets on sale for final home game with Bolton

19 April 2022

Don't miss out on tickets for Saturday's final home game of the season as Bolton Wanderers visit the Jonny-Rocks Stadium.

The kick-off time for the visit of the former Premier League side is 3pm in what is the Robins final home outing of a successful League One campaign.

The team are pushing for a record highest finish and welcome a Bolton outfit who like Michael Duff's men were promoted out of League Two last season.

Tickets are selling quickly for Saturday's fixture. There are only single seats on sale in the Colin Farmer Stand with seating also still available in the Autovillage Stand.

There are plenty of standing tickets on sale for all terrace areas in the stadium.

To buy tickets for this weekend's final home fixture head online to purchase. You can also visit the ticket office which is open between 10am and 3pm on Thursday and Friday.

If you buy before midnight on Friday you can save £2 on each ticket you buy, with tickets going up by £2 on a matchday.