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Match Previews

Preview: Bolton Wanderers

26 November 2021

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Fresh off the back of back-to-back League One wins, Cheltenham Town travel to Bolton Wanderers on Saturday in League One (kick-off: 3pm).

Cheltenham have taken six points from their last two games at home to Shrewsbury Town and away at Gillingham on Tuesday - two results that have propelled the team to 10th in the third tier.

Saturday's visit to former top flight and European side Bolton is another big challenge in the Robins first campaign back at this level since 2009, but Michael Duff's charges will travel to the University of Bolton Stadium full of confidence.

It will be the club's second visit to Bolton's impressive home, but the first with fans after last season's behind closed doors fixture, and it's been confirmed that tickets are available to buy on the day.

Team news

There are no new injury concerns following Tuesday's game with Leicester City loan midfielder Callum Wright (pictured) back in the fold having coming off the bench in midweek.

Will Boyle, Charlie Raglan, Taylor Perry, Matty Blair and Conor Thomas all remain out of action due to injury.

Media talk

Although there is a lot of difference between the two clubs, Michael Duff says that won't stop his side competing and looking to put on a performance at Bolton on Saturday.

"We know where and what we are. Do we think we're similar to Bolton in many ways, no? But we're in the League to try and compete and we'll go up there and we'll compete," he told the media on Thursday.

"You want to go and play in front of crowds. Crowds like that can work in one or two ways.

"They can roar them home if they start well but if we start well it creates its own pressure in itself.

"We have to be at it in every game, it doesn't matter who we're playing. When we haven't done it away from home we've had a few punches on the nose and we've been better away from home recently."

Watch the whole of Duff's press conference in full exclusively on iFollow. You can also watch Kyle Joseph's pre-match thoughts on iFollow too.

Opposition

Positioned one place below Cheltenham following their midweek win over lowly Doncaster Rovers, Bolton have stepped back into life in League One confidently after they finished third in League Two last season and subsequently gained automatic promotion.

They've been struggling with injury problems of late and will be patching up a squad for this weekend's fixture, though despite that they still boast a team which includes some highly rated individuals for the third tier.

Joel Dixon made the move from Barrow in the summer to feature as their goalkeeper, while defensively Wales international Declan John and towering centre back Ricardo Santos provide good quality.

At the top of the pitch they have the experienced Eoin Doyle, former England under-21 international Nathan Delfouneso and Bath born winger Xavier Amaechi who is on loan from Bundesliga 2 side Hamburger SV.

The manager: Ian Evatt

By helping Bolton clinch an automatic promotion spot last season, Ian Evatt claimed the second promotion of his managerial career having previously guided Barrow into the Football League as National League winners in the shortened 2019/20 season.

The 40-year-old has also previously had a caretaker stint in charge at Chesterfield as a manager, a club where he ended a playing career that also took in time at Blackpool, QPR and Derby County.

Tickets & travel

Bolton have now confirmed that supporters can buy on the day. Fans will be able to purchase tickets at the University of Bolton Stadium.

Any tickets that have been bought online and not picked up from the ticket office at Cheltenham will be available to collect on the day from Bolton.

The Travel Club coach making the trip will be departing from the Jonny-Rocks Stadium at 9.30am.

Coverage

Social media: Follow @CTFCofficial on Twitter for team news and updates, CTFC on Facebook for score updates and @CTFCofficial on Instagram.

Website: Read the match report post-match and see reaction to the result from inside the camp.

Radio: Tune in to live commentary on BBC Radio Gloucestershire and on iFollow.

Highlights: Watch extended highlights on iFollow, on YouTube, Quest and on Sky Sports.


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