Next Up: Bolton Wanderers vs Exeter City

City’s fine week – a thrashing of Wycombe in the FA Cup 2nd round, Peter Crouch emulating his fellow giant striker Tony Cascarino 21 years previously in sending City to Manchester in the 3rd round – got even better on Tuesday night with a hard-fought 1-0 win over AFC Wimbledon. Gary Caldwell’s side will therefore be in buoyant mood as they practice heading up the M6 on Saturday. Caldwell will be forced into one change – Jack Fitzwater picked up his fifth booking of the season, and Ed Turns is likely to get the nod to deputise. Elsewhere Liam Oakes made a good impression in his first league start but Ethan Brierley is set to return on Saturday, while Sonny Cox will be glad of some playing time late in the game on Tuesdayas he steps up his return from the injury that has kept him out for most of the season. Caldwell will hope also to have positive news regarding Danny Andrew and Reece Cole.

Expected to challenge at the top again having shaken off the financial woes that saw them temporarily drop into the fourth tier, Bolton have established themselves firmly in the promotion mix, currently sitting 5th in the table. Stephen Schumacher’s side bounced back from a shock 4-0 trouncing at Swindon in the FA Cup on Saturday by edging out a Mansfield side forced to play with 10 men for most of the match, 1-0. That defeat at Swindon was, however, the Trotters’ first in all competitions since early October, so City know they will have their work cut out to get a result at the slightly ominous sounding Toughsheet Community Stadium. It would appear that if you stop Mason Burstow and Amario Cozier-Duberry, you stop Bolton, as they have combined for 13 league goals, more than any other player put together. One player hoping to feature will be Joel Randall, who has been in and out of the side this season but the former City winger has three goals in all competitions so far.

This trip last season was seen as an attempt to exorcise the demons of the 7-0 humiliation the previous campaign, and City did just that, with goals from Doyle and Alli sealing a 2-0 win. Bolton got their revenge, however, back at SJP albeit in somewhat curious circumstances – City led until the 88th minute through Mitchell, Collins equalised and, while the Tannoy blazed into action regarding a crowd incident, City appeared to switch off and allow Morley to score the winner. That win extended Bolton’s league head to head lead to 9-4, with five matches finishing level.

The match officials for this game will be:-

Referee: Benjamin Speedie
Assistant Referees: Will Cavanagh, William and Jack Forder-Hay
Fourth Official: Dale Baines

Ben Speedie hasn’t taken charge of an Exeter City this season, but he did so last season, both defeats. The games were the the 2-1 defeat to Bolton at St James Park in Jamuary, and the 2-0 defeat to Stockport in April at St James Park.

Interview with Gary Caldwell

Interview with Sonny Cox