Bolton Wanderers face a trio of developments as they navigate the early Championship season. The club prepares for a trip to Millwall, has seen a midfielder depart on loan, and is building towards a future clash with Norwich City.
How have Bolton fared against Millwall historically?
Bolton travel to face Millwall this weekend, and historical data from the BBC suggests they have a strong recent record in this fixture. The Trotters are unbeaten in their last five league visits to The Den, a run stretching back to a defeat in October 2012. Millwall have managed just one win in their last 11 league meetings with Bolton, which was an away victory back in April 2018.
Both teams are seeking to halt poor runs of form. Millwall have lost their last two league games by heavy margins, conceding eight goals in the process. Bolton, currently 15th in the standings with four points from four games, have lost their last two Championship matches. Their recent form reads LLDW, and they have scored four goals while conceding five so far this season.
Why did Joel Randall leave Bolton Wanderers?
Midfielder Joel Randall has joined League Two side Chesterfield on a season-long loan, as reported by the Derbyshire Times. The 26-year-old play-maker, who joined Bolton from Peterborough United last year, moved in search of regular first-team football after falling out of Steven Schumacher's plans. He spent the latter part of last season on loan at Blackpool.
Randall explained his decision, citing the need for managerial trust. "At this point I need a manager who is going to put me in and back me and that’s the case here," he told the Derbyshire Times. The transfer was completed just before the deadline, making him Chesterfield's 12th summer signing. Randall expressed his desire to rediscover his best form, stating his aim is to get back to creating and scoring goals.
What are the early stats ahead of Norwich City?
Looking further ahead, Bolton have a fixture against Norwich City scheduled for September 20. Data compiled by Fox Sports highlights the contrasting early-season profiles of the two sides. Norwich, despite some mixed results, average 1.3 goals per game and create 7.5 chances per match.
Bolton's underlying numbers show they average 61% possession but have created fewer chances at 6.8 per game. Key individuals for Norwich include Andre Brooks, who leads them in goals, shots on target, and expected goals. For Bolton, Joshua Sheehan has registered the most shots on target, while Sam Dalby is the top scorer with two goals. The full squad details are available for both teams.
Bolton's immediate focus returns to their next Championship fixture, a home match against West Ham on September 8. The Hammers currently sit 12th in the table, four points ahead of Wanderers.
