Preview: Bolton Wanderers vs. Luton Town - prediction, team news, lineups

Neither side could register in their clash at Kenilworth Road, meaning that a replay is required to determine which of the two teams marches into round four, where either Crystal Palace or Everton will be waiting.

Match preview

Bolton welcomed Cheltenham Town in League One on Saturday afternoon, but the match was abandoned in the 29th minute, as a supporter suffered a suspected cardiac arrest in the stands.

The decision to postpone the contest was made following discussions between the clubs, the managers and officials, and the fixture will therefore be replayed at a later date.

Bolton have therefore not completed a league match since recording a 1-0 win over Burton Albion on New Year's Day, but they have played twice since then, drawing 0-0 with Luton in the third round of the FA Cup before recording a 3-1 victory over Accrington Stanley in the EFL Trophy.

Ian Evatt's team have had to win two games to advance to this stage of the FA Cup, beating Solihull Moors 4-0 and Harrogate Town 5-1 at home in the first and second round respectively.

The Trotters, who currently sit third in the League One table, just two points behind the leaders Portsmouth, are four-time winners of the FA Cup, meanwhile, having claimed the trophy in 1923, 1926, 1929 and 1958.

Luton have never won the FA Cup, but they did reach the final in the 1958-59 season, suffering a 2-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest at Wembley.

The Hatters were beaten by Grimsby Town in the fourth round of last season's competition, and it would be fair to say that the Premier League is the priority this term, but head coach Rob Edwards did name a strong team when they hosted Bolton in the initial match on January 7.

Luton have only played once since the 0-0 with Bolton, drawing 1-1 with Burnley in the Premier League on Friday evening, with the result leaving them 18th in the table on 16 points, one point behind 17th-placed Everton, who have now played a game more.

Edwards's side will not play again in the Premier League until January 30, when they welcome Brighton & Hove Albion, but the winner of this tie will meet either Everton or Palace in the fourth round on January 27.

Luton are winless in their last seven matches with Bolton in all competitions, with their last success over the Trotters proving to be a 2-0 victory in Division Two back in November 1981.

Bolton Wanderers FA Cup form:

W

W

D

Bolton Wanderers form (all competitions):

W

W

W

W

D

W

Luton Town FA Cup form:

D

Luton Town form (all competitions):

L

W

W

L

D

D

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Team News

Dion Charles has been comfortably Bolton's main source of goals this season, finding the back of the net on 16 occasions, and the 28-year-old is set to lead the line once again.

Victor Adeboyejo should join Charles in attack, with the 32-year-old netting seven times in all competitions this season, which will leave Jon Dadi Bodvarsson on the bench.

It would not be a surprise to see head coach Evatt name the same side that started the initial clash at Kenilworth Road, with Paris Maghoma and Kyle Dempsey both set to feature in midfield.

As for Luton, Marvelous Nakamba and Tom Lockyer remain unavailable for selection, while Issa Kabore is currently with Burkina Faso at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Jacob Brown could be back in the squad following a knee injury, and it is expected to be a strong side on Tuesday, with Ross Barkley and Chiedozie Ogbene set to be among the starters.

There will be incomings from the team that started against Burnley, though, with Tahith Chong, Carlton Morris and Tim Krul set to be introduced into the XI for the contest at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.

Bolton Wanderers possible starting lineup:

Baxter; Forrester, Ricardo, Toal; Dacres-Cogley, Dempsey, Sheehan, Maghoma, Williams; Charles, Adeboyejo

Luton Town possible starting lineup:

Krul; Mengi, Osho, Bell; Ogbene, Sambi Lokonga, Barkley, Doughty; Chong; Adebayo, Morris

We say: Bolton Wanderers 1-2 Luton Town

Bolton showed that they can match Luton when the two teams locked horns earlier this month, and we are expecting another close game here. Bolton have enough quality to triumph, but we just have a feeling that Luton will be able to navigate their way into the fourth round of the competition.

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