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

Since this article was published, this game has been called off due to a coronavirus outbreak in the Bolton squad. A new date for the game will be confirmed in due course.

Bolton Wanderers will hope to prevent their continuing decline in League One when they host Championship dropout Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday afternoon.

A return to the second tier is not yet out of the question for Wycombe who are currently sitting comfortably in fourth, whilst Bolton are a worrying seven points off the League One relegation zone.

Match preview

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With playoff ambitions of their own at the begging of the campaign, Ian Evatt has not enjoyed his first season in charge of a third tier club, with the former Barrow boss registering just seven wins so far.

Despite their indifferent form this season, Bolton's home record has offered the Whites some optimism, having been defeated just twice at the University of Bolton Stadium.

Evatt's side will enter the weekend having lost their previous two League One encounters, whilst boasting just one win from their last five matches.

One of those fixtures came against Saturday's opponents just three weeks ago, when Wycombe ran out slender 1-0 winners over Bolton at Adams Park.

Looking to do the double over Bolton for the second time in three seasons, Wycombe are in a significantly more comfortable position than their hosts.

Only the three sides above them currently in the table have taken more points from the previous five League One matches, with Wycombe's last defeat coming back in mid-November.

More impressively than that, Wycombe have lost only once in their last 13 League One outings, with the Chair Boys hoping to stretch that run to 14 this weekend.

History suggests they are well placed to do just that, with Wycombe currently in the midst of a three game winning streak against Bolton, whilst the hosts have never beaten the side from Buckinghamshire.

Team News

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Much of Wycombe's strong form this season can be attributed to the performances of Sam Vokes and Garath McCleary, who have both netted a combined 12 goals so far.

However, they could be without duo Anthony Stewart and David Wheeler, who were both absent for their win against AFC Wimbledon last weekend.

Equalling a club record for most away games without a goal during their defeat to Accrington Stanley at the weekend, the pressure is mounting on out of sorts striker Eoin Doyle to end his poor form in front of goal.

Critics have suggested the forward line's service has been the issue this season and creative midfielder Amadou Bakayoko will once again be missing for Bolton.

Bolton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Dixon; Senior, Baptiste, Johnston, John; Lee, Williams; Thomason, Afololayan, Kachunga; Doyle

Wycombe Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Stockdale; Grimmer, Tafazolli, Jacobson; McCarthy, McCleary, Thompson, Obita; Mehmeti, Hanlan, Vokes

We say: Bolton Wanderers 1-1 Wycombe Wanderers

It has not been the return to the third tier Bolton supporters would have hoped for, with their side languishing down the table.

Wycombe will prove stern opponents for the Whites, but expect Bolton to challenge for points this weekend.

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