Pompey, Derby, Plymouth: Bolton Wanderers' tough trek this Christmas

Whilst Ian Evatt’s side recovered to finish a creditable ninth last season, the manager has often looked back at that winter dip as the spell in which his team lost too much ground on the promotion race.

By the time mid-January came along the Whites had slipped further down the table to 17th and had a massive 16-point gap to recoup.

This year they are significantly better off – but there is no ignoring a tough run of fixtures leading to the same point, against several clubs who have their own designs on promotion.

Here we plot Wanderers’ route through the festive schedule and have challenges they may come up against.

Shrewsbury (a) Current position: 13th.

The Shrews toppled Peterborough United and Lincoln City in their last two home games but Bolton do have some history on their side, having not lost a league game in Shropshire since 1983.

Steve Cotterill’s side are direct, hard-working and don’t give up points easily, even against the top teams in League One.

Exeter City (h) Current position: 11th.

Enjoying a very decent season after promotion from League Two, even contending with the loss of manager Matt Taylor to Rotherham United.

Though the Grecians are punching above their financial weight at this level, Wanderers fans won’t need a reminder of how dangerous it can be to write them off. The 2-1 defeat on the penultimate game of the 2020/21 season wrecked a home promotion party.

New Exeter boss Gary Caldwell has picked up a couple of handy results since taking charge and in Jevani Brown and Sam Nombe have a goalscoring partnership which has served them well.

Derby County (h) Current position: 7th.

There are signs that things are starting to firm up at Pride Park now that promotion specialist Paul Warne has the reins.

The Rams have juggled cup commitments alongside bedding in a lot of new signings but recent results suggest they could be ready to push into the play-offs, having lingered on the periphery for the last couple of months.

Experienced strikers James Collins and David McGoldrick are a handful but they also have real pedigree elsewhere in the likes of Conor Hourihane, Tom Barkhuizen and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing.

Lincoln (a) Current position 12th.

Much improved on last season, where they spent most of their time glancing over their shoulder at the bottom four, the Imps have been stubborn hosts – losing none of their nine home games at time of writing.

While a few too many drawn games have stopped them pushing into the top half of the table, Lincoln pose some unique threats, playing with more width than most and relying on a hard-hitting counter-attack.

Wanderers did win on their last trip to Sincil Bank, however, with Antoni Sarcevic netting a memorable late winner last August.

Barnsley (a) Current position: 4th.

Will it be third time lucky for Wanderers against familiar foes Barnsley in the first game of 2023?

Michael Duff’s side has hit a good seam of recent form, winning their last four games in the league and have been awkward opponents on their two visits to the University of Bolton Stadium, to say the least.

Hard to beat, especially if they are allowed to score the first goal, Barnsley are looking a strong candidate for a top six spot already.

Plymouth (h) Current position: 1st.

It has been a dream season so far for Steven Schumacher’s side, whose free-scoring side top the table, but the former Bury assistant boss will hope a relatively unsteady patch of form can be quickly resolved.

Plymouth have taken two points from the last available nine and do give away chances – but it cannot be disputed they have been hugely impressive since August, scoring 39 league goals and losing just three times.

The Pilgrims have a favourable festive schedule and if Ryan Hardie can continue knocking in the goals, they might well arrive in Bolton still holding on to an automatic promotion spot.

Portsmouth (h) Current position: 8th.

Pompey don’t lose often – as Danny Cowley has created a very efficient, very strong League One squad, playing in front of an expectant crowd at Fratton Park.

Colby Bishop has proved an excellent addition up front, scoring nine times in the league to date, and the former Accrington man is one of several aerial threats in an aggressive team which scores plenty of goals at set pieces.

Portsmouth were fancied to challenge for the play-offs this season and they have rarely been far from the top six spots. Like Bolton they have some tough tests over Christmas and also an FA Cup third round game at Tottenham – which Evatt’s men will hope can be a distraction.

Derby County (a) Current position: 7th.

Chris Thompson and Gerry McElhinney were the last players to celebrate goals on the winning team for Bolton at Derby, way back in 1981. Since then, whether it has been the Baseball Ground or Pride Park, the end result has been pretty grim.

There have been 15 fruitless trips in the years since – making Derby one of Bolton’s least successful away days alongside Rotherham, Arsenal, Fulham (all 17 games without a league win) and Liverpool (18 games).

It would be a fine New Year boost indeed if Ian Evatt can go back to his former club and change that!