SM
Thursday, March 28
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
RL
League One | Gameweek 26
Jan 1, 2022 at 3pm UK
The New York Stadium
BL

Rotherham
2 - 1
Bolton

Smith (40', 74')
Ogbene (53'), Smith (84')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Doyle (42')
Afolayan (43'), Dixon (68'), Santos (83')

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

:Headline: Preview: Rotherham United vs. Bolton Wanderers - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Saturday's League One clash between Rotherham United and Bolton Wanderers, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

After suffering just their fourth defeat of the season at the weekend, League One leaders Rotherham United look to start 2022 with a return to winning ways, as they welcome Bolton Wanderers to the New York Stadium.

Ahead of their New Year's Day contest, the visitors have been sidelined since mid-December due to a COVID-19 outbreak in the camp, while United saw Lincoln's scheduled visit postponed earlier this week.


Match preview

Still very much at the forefront of the race for automatic promotion, a five-game winning run came to an end for Rotherham last time out, as they fell to a 1-0 loss at Accrington.

The Millers were undone by Sean McConville's 75th-minute strike for the Lancashire side, which also saw the club's record unbeaten streak brought to a conclusion after a commendable 21 league and cup games.

Indeed, Paul Warne's men had previously tasted defeat back in August, but they nonetheless remain a point clear at the summit of the League One standings.

Rotherham had, in fact, been due to turn out again in midweek, but their fixture against Lincoln City was postponed because of several COVID-19 cases arising within the Imps' squad.

Boasting the division's most productive attack - averaging almost two goals per game - and also owners of the best defensive record, the South Yorkshire outfit have been promoted from the third tier twice in the past four seasons, so have a great deal of experience to aid them through the second half of the current campaign.

Their next obstacle on the long road back to the Championship sees Warne and company meet a side which they managed to beat 2-0 earlier this term, despite having less than a third of the ball and facing 19 shots on goal. They will hope, then, for a repeat of that scoreline on Saturday if not the performance.

Bolton will be eager to get back out on the field following an enforced break in proceedings over the past fortnight, as each of their last three games have been postponed owing to a virus outbreak at the club.

Fixtures with Wycombe Wanderers, Morecambe and Burton Albion all fell by the wayside over the first part of the festive period, so Ian Evatt's side may have a certain amount of rust to shake off as they face the league's leading team.

While the Trotters' training ground finally reopened on Monday, even Evatt has been absent with COVID-19, so hitting the ground running in 2022 will be a substantial challenge to say the least.

During his first season in charge of Wanderers, the former Barrow boss has managed to register just seven wins from 22 League One outings so far, and Bolton had lost their two most recent matches before being effectively shut down - picking up just one victory from their last five in the league and also crashing out of the FA Cup to Lancashire rivals Stockport.

Scheduled to resume their EFL Trophy campaign at the third round stage early next week, 15th-placed Wanderers would surely take a point on New Year's Day to complete the first half of an inconsistent season.

Rotherham United League One form:
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • L

Rotherham United form (all competitions):
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • L

Bolton Wanderers League One form:
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • D
  • L
  • L

Bolton Wanderers form (all competitions):
  • L
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • L
  • L

Team News

To date, Rotherham have been fortunate to escape the illness and injury that has beset many other clubs, and the hosts currently have a clean bill of health - offering Paul Warne the opportunity to select his strongest side.

Top scorer Michael Smith and nine-goal partner Freddie Ladapo are set to lead the line for the Millers, with Republic of Ireland winger Chiedozie Ogbene providing some width on the right.

Meanwhile, a back three of Michael Ihiekwe, Wes Harding and Richard Wood is likely to be selected as the rearguard of a 3-1-4-2 formation.

By contrast with his opposite number, Bolton boss Ian Evatt has been particularly hard hit by the latest wave of the pandemic, and it remains to be seen how many players he will have at his disposal to start 2022.

A total of 18 positive tests within the club means that not all of those affected will be fit to return, while Josh Sheehan and Lloyd Isgrove are long-term injury absentees.

However, full-back Gethin Jones (leg) and forward Amadou Bakayoko (hamstring) are nearing returns and could possibly feature on the bench, as first-choice striker Eoin Doyle seeks to end his lean spell in front of goal.

Rotherham United possible starting lineup:
Johansson; Harding, Wood, Ihiekwe; Barlaser; Ogbene, Ferguson, Rathbone, Wiles; Smith, Ladapo

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


We say: Rotherham United 3-1 Bolton Wanderers

Fuelled by the frustration of their first setback in several months, Rotherham can use their attacking strength to take care of business against a Bolton side with several issues to overcome.

The visitors have effectively been in hibernation for over two weeks, and were struggling for form beforehand, so will be unable to resist the well-drilled league leaders on Saturday.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data




body check tags ::

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


amp_article__474021 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-12-31 08:27:48:
html db last update - 2021-12-30 11:32:08 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Read more!
Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
Saturday's League One football predictions including Sunderland vs. Plymouth
Liverpool 'resigned to missing out on top managerial candidate'
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds38257670284282
2Leicester CityLeicester37264774334182
3Ipswich TownIpswich38249580493181
4Southampton36227773472673
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom381991059362366
6Norwich CityNorwich381871369541561
7Hull City371610115346758
8Coventry CityCoventry3715121059431657
9Preston North EndPreston37168134954-556
10Middlesbrough38166165352154
11Cardiff CityCardiff38165174351-853
12Sunderland38146184845348
13Watford381212145351248
14Bristol City38138174245-347
15Swansea CitySwansea381210164858-1046
16Millwall381110173650-1443
17Blackburn RoversBlackburn38119185164-1342
18Plymouth ArgylePlymouth381011175462-841
19Stoke CityStoke38118193553-1841
20Queens Park RangersQPR381010183650-1440
21Birmingham CityBirmingham38109194259-1739
22Huddersfield TownHuddersfield38815154261-1939
23Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds38115223061-3138
24Rotherham UnitedRotherham38311243077-4720
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Man City injury, suspension list vs. Arsenal - De Bruyne, Stones and more

1

MC

Key Man City duo miss training ahead of Arsenal title clash

2

KM

Preview: LA Galaxy vs. Seattle - prediction, team news, lineups

NEW

3

PL

Real Madrid 'priced out of move for Liverpool's Alexander-Arnold'

4

RM

Barcelona could be missing seven players for Las Palmas clash

5

BC

Man Utd could raise £105m through player sales this summer

6

MU

Preview: Barcelona vs. Las Palmas - prediction, team news, lineups

7

PB

How Barcelona could line up against Las Palmas

8

HB

Key midfield trio 'absent from Real Madrid training on Thursday'

9

KM

Man Utd, Spurs 'alerted to cut-price fee for in-demand defender'

10

MU


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .