Bolton Wanderers prepare for key Championship fixture against Middlesbrough

Bolton Wanderers host Middlesbrough at Toughsheet Community Stadium on Friday in a Championship fixture that pits 15th against 3rd.

Bolton Wanderers prepare for a key Championship clash at home against Middlesbrough on Friday evening. The match at Toughsheet Community Stadium kicks off at 7pm local time on Friday 23 October. Their recent form has been mixed, but they are unbeaten in their last two away fixtures. A hard-fought 0-0 draw at Southampton last Friday followed a 3-1 victory at Wolves four days earlier. That win at Molineux saw goals from Atsuki Ito, Sam Dalby and Josh Sheehan.

Recent form and context

Bolton’s recent five-game sequence reads three wins, one draw and one loss. The sole defeat in that run was a 2-1 home loss to Stoke City on 10 October. This form has lifted them to 15th, though they remain nine points behind the league leaders, Swansea. Overall this season, Bolton have scored 15 goals and conceded 18. Middlesbrough, their visitors, are third in the standings and arrive unbeaten in their last three outings. They drew 2-2 at home to Cardiff last weekend after a 3-2 win at Stoke and a 1-0 home victory over Wolves. Boro manager Michael Carrick has seen his team score in every league game this season, a record Bolton will aim to end. Bolton’s home form has been inconsistent, with two wins, two draws, and two defeats from their six matches at the Toughsheet Community Stadium so far.

Team news and lineups

Both teams used a 4-2-3-1 formation in their most recent matches. Bolton’s starting lineup against Southampton featured Bazunu in goal behind a back four of Luca Stephenson, Toal, Brunt and Aji Alese. The midfield pivot of Josh Sheehan and Simons supported an attacking trio of Gaizka Larrazabal, Atsuki Ito and Gale, with Sam Dalby leading the line. Dalby is Bolton’s top scorer this season with four goals in 11 appearances. Middlesbrough’s last XI included Vítek in goal, with Brittain, Ayling, Phillips and Neto Borges in defence. The midfield was anchored by Jonny Howson and Hayden Hackney, with Morgan Rogers, Matt Crooks and Isaiah Jones operating behind striker Emmanuel Latte Lath. Latte Lath has five goals for Boro this campaign and is a key threat.