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League One | Gameweek 41
Apr 5, 2025 at 3pm UK
University of Bolton Stadium
Bristol Rovers

Bolton
1 - 0
Bristol Rovers

Collins (76')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Butcher (30'), Forde (57')

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

Sports Mole previews Saturday's League One clash between Bolton Wanderers and Bristol Rovers, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

A place in the playoffs and a place in League One are both at stake on Saturday when promotion hopefuls Bolton Wanderers take on relegation-threatened Bristol Rovers at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.

The Trotters will be looking to build on their win last time out, while the Gas are desperate to stop the rot after four consecutive defeats.


Match preview

Bolton Wanderers manager Steven Schumacher before his side's clash against Burton Albion, on March 8, 2025© Imago

Steven Schumacher's Bolton went on a five-game unbeaten run between mid-February and mid-March that saw them win four and draw just one, but after losing three games on the bounce to end March, it would be fair to say that they stumbled in their push for promotion.

However, the Trotters managed to get back on track with a narrow 1-0 victory on the road to derby rivals Wigan Athletic earlier this week, and Chris Forino's stoppage-time goal was enough to secure their first win over the Latics for more than a decade.

The three points that Schumacher's side escaped the Brick Community Stadium with was enough to lift them back into the playoff spots, though they are just one point ahead of seventh-placed Reading, two ahead of eighth-placed Huddersfield Town and three ahead of a resurgent ninth-placed Blackpool.

Saturday's hosts will be keen to prove - to themselves, their fans and their rivals - that their victory was not a one off despite the dramatic timing of their winner, and with four wins from their last five home games, they will be confident of taking all three points once again when facing one of the division's at-risk clubs.

Should Bolton manage back-to-back wins for the first time in almost a month, then they could open up a four-point gap between themselves in sixth and their playoff rivals, though defeat could see them fall all the way down to ninth by the end of the weekend due to their lacklustre goal difference.

Bristol Rovers head coach Inigo Calderon on December 26, 2024© Imago

Meanwhile, Inigo Calderon's Rovers are currently on a disastrous stretch of four losses that has placed their status in the third tier in jeopardy, including a 1-0 defeat at the hands of relegation rivals Crawley Town.

Last time out, the Gas followed up a 2-1 beating by Mansfield Town by losing 2-1 against league-leaders Birmingham City, but the manager may take heart from the fact that his team fought to get the score level against superior opposition in both games despite eventually being unable to hold out.

Dropping 12 points in their four most recent fixtures has left Calderon's side 20th in the table, and though they have a three-point lead over Burton Albion in the relegation zone, the Brewers have a game in hand and are in much better form.

Every point is crucial for the Gas with the threat of demotion looming, but having avoided defeat on the road only five times this league campaign, this weekend's visitors are likely to be low on confidence for the trip to Bolton.

That being said, Bristol's last win did come against the Trotters on March 11, and if they are able to repeat that result on Saturday, then they could alleviate the threat that Burton's game in hand poses to their place in the division, but a more likely fifth consecutive loss could cause them to drop into the relegation zone before Gary Bowyer's side even play their spare fixture.

Bolton Wanderers League One form:

Bristol Rovers League One form:


Team News

Bolton Wanderers' Aaron Collins celebrates on January 25, 2025© Imago

Bolton's derby-day match winner, centre-back Chris Forino, should start at the heart of Schumacher's back three once again this weekend, with William Forrester and George Johnston either side of him.

Out wide, wing-backs Josh Dacres-Cogley and Jordi Osei Tutu will be providing width for the Trotters, while Joel Randall can be expected to support strikers Aaron Collins and John McAtee from his attacking midfield position.

As for Rovers, right-back Taylor Moore was withdrawn with an injury late on against Birmingham earlier this week, and if he is not ready to play on Saturday, then Joel Senior could join a backline featuring James Wilson, Connor Taylor and Clinton Mola.

Elsewhere, striker Gatlin O'Donkor scored an equaliser on Tuesday, but he will be keen to net a goal that adds some security to the Gas' third-tier status on Saturday.


Bolton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Baxter; Forrester, Forino, Johnston; Dacres-Cogley, Sheehan, Thomason, Osei-Tutu; Randall; Collins, McAtee

Bristol Rovers possible starting lineup:
Ward; Senior, Wilson, Taylor, Mola; Sawyers; Forde, Shaw, Butcher, Sotiriou; O'Donkor


SM words green background

We say: Bolton Wanderers 2-1 Bristol Rovers

Bolton may have been out of sorts at the end of March, but they will be expecting to take all three points against a relegation-threatened team this weekend.

However, the Trotters did need a last-gasp winner to earn their victory last time out, and Rovers could make the game a close-fought contest in their desperation.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


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Written by
Anthony Nolan

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Game History

How you voted: Bolton vs Bristol Rovers

Bolton Wanderers
77.8%
Draw
11.1%
Bristol Rovers
11.1%
18
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Birmingham CityBirmingham40298373294495
2Wrexham422410859322782
3Wycombe WanderersWycombe422312767373081
4Stockport CountyStockport422211963372677
5Charlton AthleticCharlton4222101058382076
6Reading421912115951869
7Leyton Orient422061661431866
8Bolton WanderersBolton42206166362166
9Huddersfield TownHuddersfield421971654441064
10Blackpool4115151163531060
11Barnsley42169176064-457
12Lincoln CityLincoln421413155749855
13Rotherham UnitedRotherham42159184853-554
14Stevenage411410173844-652
15Exeter CityExeter421410184558-1352
16Peterborough UnitedPeterborough41139196272-1048
17Wigan AthleticWigan411114163539-447
18Mansfield TownMansfield41138204959-1047
19Northampton TownNorthampton421114174259-1747
20Burton Albion411012194459-1542
21Bristol Rovers42126244268-2642
22Crawley TownCrawley4299244981-3236
23Cambridge UnitedCambridge42811234066-2635
24Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury4279263771-3430


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