Match Preview: Stevenage vs Bolton Wanderers

20 November 2020

After a strong but ultimately unsuccessful Papa John’s Trophy performance midweek, Boro return to league action this Saturday at the Lamex Stadium...

Stevenage are proving difficult to beat, having drawn five of their last six games (in 90 minutes), but Alex Revell’s side are eager to find that winning edge this Saturday against Bolton Wanderers, who travel to the Lamex Stadium for the first time ever.

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Ian Evatt’s Bolton Wanderers are currently 17th in League Two and come into this fixture off the back of Papa John’s Trophy success, beating Newcastle United U21’s 3-2. Bolton were also successful in their last league fixture, winning against Salford City 2-0 at the University of Bolton Stadium.

Bolton have previously enjoyed success in the top flight of English football and were a Premier League team for 13 seasons, with a highest league finish of 6th place in 2004-05. During this stint, Bolton reached the League Cup final and competed in Europe, holding Bayern Munich and Marseille to draws as well as beating Atlético Madrid.

Bolton have since sild down the divisions due to financial struggles, with Ian Evatt looking to be the man who takes ‘The Trotters’ back to glory.

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The Stevenage squad is looking in good shape with very few injury issues to report. Only Jack Aitchison and Elliot Osborne, who recently suffered an ankle injury are out of contention.

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Referee: Will Finnie
Assistant Referee 1: Gregory Read
Assistant Referee 2: Michael Webb
Fourth Official: Marc Wilson

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Stevenage boss, Alex Revell said, "We are high in the stats for chances created and we know that we should be doing a lot better in terms of goals. We know that what we are doing is right and we just need to get wins, simple as that.

"We also know that hard work on the training ground is crucial as well as making sure the players know their roles and responsibilities.

"There are games that I thought we should have been out of sight this season and the only people that can change that factor is us. We will be working extremely hard to make sure that everyone is ready for the game.

"It will be tough, they are a good side but when the players here have that self-belief and everything clicks, we will be a good side."

Bolton Wanderers manager, Ian Evatt, said, "We have to build on the two results we have got. Going to Stevenage won’t be an easy game, I don’t care where they are in the division. For me, the two A’s are important on Saturday – and that is attitude and application.

"If we go there with the right attitude and apply ourselves correctly in the right manner, then I am sure we can get the right result.

"We have to be ready to roll our sleeves up, do the dirty side of it, and then hopefully our football technique will take over."

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Match Reports

Report: Stevenage 1-2 Bolton

21 November 2020

Stevenage fell to defeat in Sky Bet League Two this afternoon, with Alex Revell's side losing 2-1 to Bolton Wanderers at the Lamex Stadium...

After falling behind by two goals, Tom Pett's strike just before the half gave Stevenage life who pushed for a second throughout the second half, to no avail.

Alex Revell named six changes from the side that played Northampton Town on Tuesday, with Scott Cuthbert, Ross Marshall, Ben Coker, Arthur Read, Charlie Carter, Tom Pett and Aramide Oteh coming in to the team.

Boro started on the front foot and had an excellent penalty shout dismissed by referee Will Finnie as Tom Pett was clipped in the box by an onrushing Alex Baptiste to no avail.

Stevenage academy products Arthur Iontton and Jack Smith retained thier places in the squad from Tuesday's game and the pair looked promising from the off, retaining possession in midfield for Boro.

Bolton managed to grab the first goal of the contest after 13 minutes though, as Antoni Sarcevic's acrobatic kick was saved by Jamie Cumming, only to fall into the path of Eoin Doyle who stabbed home his fourth goal of the season from close range.

The visitors came close to a second minutes later with a Sarcevic corner finding the head of Alex Baptiste who was denied by an outstretched hand of Cumming, tipping Baptiste's header onto the post.

Bolton added a second after 36 minutes as a quick counter attack saw Gethin Jones dart into the Stevenage box before passing across goal into the path of unmarked Ali Crawford, calmy dispatching past a helpless Cumming.

Just as the contest was beginning to look lost, Boro halved the deficit on the stroke of half time after Aramide Oteh wriggled past his man out wide before drilling a cross into Tom Pett, who strook the ball home into the top corner for his first goal since returning to Stevenage.

Bolton started the second half on the front foot, spurning a great chance to restore thier two goal cushion after Baptiste released Doyle on the edge of the box, shooting into the hands of Cumming.

Stevenage pushed the travelling Whites all second half though and Arthur Read found space in the area on 52 minutes, before passing to Newton on the edge of the box, who drilled a powerful low shot at goal which Gilks saved well.

Boro continued to chip away at the visitors defence, coming close once again on the hour mark with Ben Coker's high cross reaching Danny Newton, who headed just wide of goal.

Bolton nearly caught Boro out with a counter attack for a second time as Gethin Jones received the ball out wide, fizzing an effort towards goal that was parried to safety by Cumming.

Then, Pett had the chance of the half on 74 minutes, curling a shot goalwards which was excellently saved by the fingertips of Matt Gilks.

Tom Pett was charging Stevenage forward in the dying stages, winning a foul on the edge of the Bolton box late on, but the Stevenage goalscorer failed to challenge Gilks with the resulting set-piece.

Despite five minutes of added time, Boro failed to find a decisive second goal as the Trotters left the Lamex Stadium with all three points. Next up for Alex Revell's side is the challenge of Port Vale on Tuesday.