Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Boltonvs.Mansfield

sportsmole.co.uk, 1 December 2024, 10:38
Two teams vying for a place in the League One playoffs are set to come together on Tuesday night when Bolton Wanderers host Mansfield Town at the University of Bolton Stadium.

The hosts are eighth in the table with 27 points from 16 outings, only outside the top six on goal difference, while the visitors are 10th with 24 points from 15 fixtures.

Match preview

Bolton have experienced a turbulent past few years, marked by consecutive relegations from the Championship (2018-19) and League One (2019-20), followed by a resurgence that has seen them competing for promotion from League One over the past three seasons.

Bolton narrowly missed out on promotion in 2021-22, finishing ninth with 73 points, followed by a playoff semi-final loss to Barnsley (2-1 on aggregate) in 2022-23 and a defeat to Oxford United (2-0) in the playoff final last season.

Ian Evatt, at the helm since July 2020, is once again guiding Bolton in their promotion push this season, with the team currently eighth in the table on 27 points from 16 matches, narrowly outside the playoff spots on goal difference.

They initially had a difficult start to the term, winning their opening game before failing to win any of their next four league outings, three losses and one draw, but they have since recovered with just two defeats in the following 11 league matches.

Bolton will now be heading into this game hoping they can secure a crucial victory against Mansfield, who are similarly fighting for a place in the playoffs, a side they have defeated in each of the last two meetings.

Mansfield earned promotion to the third tier of English football last season, ending a 21-year absence by finishing third in League Two, and they have made a strong start to life back in League One.

Nigel Clough's Mansfield side have had a solid start to the season, winning seven, drawing three, and losing five of their 15 league matches, placing them 10th with 24 points, just three points off the playoff spots, with at least a game in hand on those around them.

They have, however, suffered a miserable run of results in League One in their recent outings, heading into this game having lost their last three, while they are without a win in their last four league fixtures.

That leaves Clough's men aiming to secure a vital victory to end their recent poor run and close the gap on the playoff places, but they have failed to defeat Bolton in any of the past three encounters.

Bolton Wanderers League One form:

L

W

W

L

W

D

Bolton Wanderers form (all competitions):

W

L

L

W

W

D

Mansfield Town League One form:

L

W

D

L

L

L

Mansfield Town form (all competitions):

W

W

L

L

L

W

Team News

Bolton will be without Kyle Dempsey due to a knee injury, while Eoin Toal and Chris Forino are also set to be sidelined with ongoing injury issues.

Dion Charles is Bolton's top scorer in the league with six goals in 16 league appearances, and he is likely to start upfront alongside Aaron Collins, who has scored in his last three appearances.

As for the visitors, Lee Gregory, who has scored seven goals in 12 league appearances, has been absent since a 1-0 loss to Wrexham at the beginning of November, but he could be in line for a return to the side here.

Ben Quinn and Stephen Quinn were both forced off in their 1-0 win against Stevenage in the FA Cup last time out, and both will remain as doubts here.

Bolton Wanderers possible starting lineup:

Baxter; Jones, Santos, Johnston; Dacres-Cogley, Matete, Sheehan, Thomason, Williams; Charles, Collins

Mansfield Town possible starting lineup:

Pym; Oshilaja, Flint, Cargill; Hewitt, Boateng, Maris, Lewis, Blake-Tracy; Akins, Evans

We say: Bolton Wanderers 2-1 Mansfield Town

Previews by email

Top News

4 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Martin Zubimendi is reportedly open to leaving Real Sociedad during next summer's transfer window, which has placed both Manchester City and Liverpool on red alert for the Spain international. 4 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Phil Foden has not been named in Manchester City's matchday squad for tonight's Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest at the Etihad Stadium. 4 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Christopher Nkunku has been named in a much-changed Chelsea XI for Wednesday's Premier League game at Southampton. 4 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur head coach Ange Postecoglou has said that his club need to strengthen their attacking department during the January transfer window due to his lack of options in that area of the field. 4 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim is reportedly keen to bring Bayern Munich midfielder Konrad Laimer to Old Trafford during next summer's transfer window. 4 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly placed RB Leipzig's David Raum on their transfer shortlist, with the Red Devils planning to bring in a new left-sided defender during the summer of 2025. 4 December 2024 talksport.com Rafael van der Vaart has opened up about the huge pressure that comes with playing for Real Madrid. 4 December 2024 talksport.com A brand-new competition will be taking place in the summer of 2025, with some of the world's biggest clubs eyeing glory in the USA. 4 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Under-fire manager Luis Enrique will take his Paris Saint-Germain side to Auxerre in Ligue 1 on Friday night. 4 December 2024 talksport.com A year ago, Scott McKenna couldn't get a game for Nottingham Forest. 4 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two sides living dangerously close to the relegation zone will go head to head when Trabzonspor host Kasimpasa at Papara Park to get the Turkish Super Lig round 15 underway on Friday. 4 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United defender Harry Maguire is reportedly still in the dark over his contract situation at Old Trafford. 4 December 2024 talksport.com Julen Lopetegui was involved in a furious row with Jean-Clair Todibo during West Ham's defeat to Arsenal, talkSPORT understands. 4 December 2024 talksport.com Giorgio Chiellini believes it doesn't come close over who he'd rather play alongside in a final out of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. 4 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United and Chelsea have allegedly been handed a blow in the race for Lecce defender Patrick Dorgu. 4 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two of France's Champions League representatives meet at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Ligue 1 on Friday, when Lille host Brest. 4 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk West Ham United are allegedly contemplating whether to sack head coach Julen Lopetegui. 4 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal may benefit from being the "hunters" rather than the "hunted" as they try to overhaul Liverpool in the race for Premier League glory, according to Gunners expert Charles Watts. 4 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing Feyenoord midfielder Antoni Milambo, with the Red Devils 'closely monitoring' his development. 4 December 2024 talksport.com Mondo Duplantis has rounded off a stellar 2024 by chalking up yet another historic achievement. 4 December 2024 talksport.com Manchester United have made a major breakthrough in contract talks with their unheralded 'diamond' one pundit compared with Bukayo Saka. 4 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Braga, currently 10 points clear and six places ahead of Estoril Praia in the Primeira Liga table, are favourites to record their eighth win in Friday's gameweek 13 fixture at Estadio Municipal de Braga. 4 December 2024 talksport.com Bukayo Saka can 'one day' win the Ballon d'Or but he is still behind one prolific Premier League player to win the 2025 gong. 4 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have allegedly identified Paris Saint-Germain defender Willian Pacho as a potential transfer target for 2025. 4 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have reportedly set the wheels in motion in an effort to sign AC Milan winger Rafael Leao. 4 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City midfielder Rodri has suggested that he would welcome Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams joining him at the Etihad Stadium. 4 December 2024 talksport.com An octopus-like goalkeeper, a star who deserved a Ballon d'Or and a midfielder who would rock up hungover to training. 4 December 2024 talksport.com Tottenham fans were left shocked and bemused by the identity of a possible new owner. 4 December 2024 talksport.com Manchester United abandoned plans to wear a pro-LGBQ+ rainbow jacket against Everton after Noussair Mazraoui refused to support the initiative. 4 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Mallorca will be aiming to bounce back from a heavy defeat to Barcelona when they continue their La Liga campaign with a clash against Celta Vigo at the Estadio Municipal de Balaidos on Friday night.