Preview: Bolton Wanderers vs. Wrexham – prediction, team news, lineups

Bolton Wanderers and Wrexham will both be targeting back-to-back league victories when they face off at the Toughsheet Community Stadium on Sunday.

The Trotters began their League One campaign with a narrow win over Leyton Orient, while Wrexham prevailed in a five-goal thriller against Wycombe Wanderers.

Match preview

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Bolton are competing in their fourth consecutive League One campaign after losing to Oxford United in last season’s playoff final.

The Trotters have ultimately put that disappointment behind them and are now focusing on mounting a promotion bid to return to the Championship for the first time since 2018-19.

They would have been pleased to make a positive start to the 2024-25 campaign, claiming a 2-1 away win over Leyton Orient thanks to goals from Dion Charles and Victor Adeboyejo.

Bolton experienced another successful outing in Tuesday’s EFL Cup tie against Mansfield Town, holding their nerve to prevail in a penalty shootout after playing out a 1-1 draw in regulation time.

They will be targeting more success in their first league meeting with Wrexham since recording a 1-0 away victory in a fourth-tier clash in May 1988.

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Meanwhile, Wrexham are featuring in their first League One campaign since 2003-04 after achieving back-to-back promotions under the Hollywood ownership of Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds.

The Welsh side marked their return to the third tier with an entertaining 3-2 home win over Wycombe Wanderers following goals from Max Cleworth, Jack Marriott and Steven Fletcher.

In contrast to Bolton, Wrexham were unable to back their league result in their midweek EFL Cup outing, as they to a 4-2 defeat to Championship side Sheffield United.

Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson will turn his attention to a league game against one of his former clubs after spending three full seasons at Bolton, including a League One promotion-winning campaign in 2016-17.

Having lost their last three competitive games against Bolton, the visitors are looking to claim their first head-to-head win since recording a 3-1 win in November 1985.

Bolton Wanderers League One form:

Bolton Wanderers form (all competitions):

Wrexham League One form:

Wrexham form (all competitions):

Team News

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Bolton are unable to call upon summer signing Klaidi Lolos, who sustained an ankle injury in his debut against Leyton Orient last weekend.

Lolos is joined in the treatment room by Will Forrester, while Kyle Dempsey is a doubt after missing the first two matches of the new campaign.

After making changes in midweek, Bolton boss Ian Evatt could be tempted to revert back to the side that started the opening league game.

As for the visitors, Paul Mullin and Jacob Mendy are closing in on a return to fitness but it remains to be seen whether they will be ready for Sunday’s contest.

Dan Scarr, Lewis Brunt and Ollie Rathbone all made their competitive debuts in midweek, but they may struggle to retain their spots because Parkinson could decide to select the same lineup that started the league game against Wycombe.

Marriott got on the scoresheet against the Chairboys, and he will be looking to score in a second straight league game when he features in a front two alongside Ollie Palmer.

Bolton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Baxter; Toal, Santos, Iredale; Dacres-Cogley, Arfield, Sheehan, Thomason, Schon; Charles, Collins

Wrexham possible starting lineup:
Okonkwo; Barnett, Cleworth, O’Connell, O’Connor, McClean; Cannon, Dobson, Lee; Marriott, Palmer

We say: Bolton Wanderers X-Y Wrexham

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