Preview: Accrington Stanley vs. Bolton Wanderers - prediction, team news, lineups

Ian Evatt's side sit just outside the playoff places and, after a draw in their last league fixture against a good Barnsley side, they will be hoping to pick up three points in this game.

Match preview

Accrington Stanley managed to pick up a 3-2 win in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday against Liverpool Under-21s, with most of their first-choice attackers playing in the fixture, whilst the whole of the defence were rotated.

In the league, the defence have not been good recently, conceding six times in two games which is a surprise as it had been their strength. Their weakness has been scoring goals, only finding the net more than once in three league games so far this season.

Their scoring woes were not helped in their last game against Derby County, with Sean McConville missing two penalties in the first half. Being the current top scorer for Accrington Stanley, this dent to his confidence will not help the scoring fortunes of the team.

Currently sitting 16th, four points above the relegation zone, Accrington will be hoping to pick up three points at home to build a gap from the bottom and climb up the table. They have found it easier to score at home, so they will be hoping that those fortunes continue into this fixture.

After narrow losses to two teams they would have expected to beat, Cheltenham Town and Forest Green Rovers, followed by a draw against Barnsley, Bolton Wanderers will be hoping that this fixture will provide them with a good opportunity to pick up three points.

The Trotters have struggled to score goals this season, finding the net 13 times in 13 league games. The reason for their seventh position in the league is defensive stability, conceding just eight times so far - the best defensive record in League One.

Seven clean sheets for on-loan Manchester City keeper James Trafford has been key to this defensive success, and he will be someone that Accrington Stanley should know quite well as he spent a spell on loan with them in 2021.

Conor Bradley has provided most of the attacking spark for his side so far this season, providing two goals and two assists, but Ian Evatt will be hoping that Oladapo Afolayan and Amadou Bakayoko find the scoring form from last season when they both reached double figures - something which will be more important this weekend as Bradley is suspended.

Bolton will be expecting a victory in this fixture to get their season back on track after a recent dip in form, with Accrington Stanley being the perfect opponent to face at the moment if you are struggling to score goals.

Accrington Stanley League One form:

L

W

W

W

L

L

Accrington Stanley form (all competitions):

D

W

W

L

L

W

Bolton Wanderers League One form:

W

W

W

L

L

D

Bolton Wanderers form (all competitions):

D

W

L

L

D

W

Team News

Harvey Rodgers and Mitchell Clark are likely to continue in the defence after their regular replacement Mohammed Sangare, who came on for Clark in the Derby County game, only lasted eight minutes before having to come off again.

Seamus Conneely is still suspended following his red card against Plymouth Argyle, with Liam Coyle likely to keep his place in the deeper midfield position.

Accrington Stanley will be without Conor Bradley after he picked up a fifth yellow card of the season - Elias Kachunga or Declan John could come into the starting lineup to take his place.

The three positions at the top of the 3-4-1-2 have been rotated recently, with Dion Charles being the only one to keep his place as they continue their search for more goals.

Jon Dadi Bodvarsson and Afolayan started the last fixture against Barnsley but like Kieran Lee and Kachunga in the previous week, they did not find the net.

Accrington Stanley possible starting lineup:

Savin; Rodgers, Astley, Tharme, Clark; Coyle, McConville, Hamilton, Pritchard, Whalley; Leigh

Bolton Wanderers possible starting lineup:

Trafford; Johnston, Santos, Jones; Iredale, Thomason, Williams, Kachunga, Afolayan; Charles, Bodvarsson

We say: Accrington Stanley 0-1 Bolton Wanderers

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