Bolton Wanderers made one change to their starting line-up for their Championship trip to face Millwall at The Den on Saturday, September 5, 2026. The team news was reported by The Bolton News ahead of kick-off.
Manager Ian Evatt opted to bring in Brunt at right-back, with the defender replacing Thelonius Bair in the only alteration from the previous match. This tactical switch saw Jordi Osei-Tutu retain his place in the starting eleven. The change meant Larrazabal dropped out of the matchday squad entirely. Bolton's official social media account posted the confirmed line-up, stating: "Lining up for Wanderers at The Den! 🗞️🔢#bwfc".
What was Bolton's recent form before the game?
Bolton entered the fixture sitting 15th in the Championship table, having collected four points from their opening four matches. Their record showed one win, one draw, and two losses, with a recent sequence of results reading loss, loss, draw, win. They had scored four goals and conceded five, giving them a minus one goal difference. The side found themselves six points behind early leaders Swansea City. Key forward Thierry Gale was highlighted as being in good form for the visitors.
How did Millwall approach the match?
The hosts, Millwall, made five changes to their own starting eleven according to their official announcement on social media. Their pre-match tweet read: "Five changes in today's starting XI 💪". The Lions had been dealing with significant injury problems earlier in the campaign, having had 13 players unavailable at one stage. Phil Brown, the former Bolton manager, provided pre-match analysis for BBC radio on the day of the game.
What was the historical context at The Den?
Bolton Wanderers carried a positive recent record into their visit to south London. The team was undefeated in their last five trips to The Den, a run they aimed to extend. This historical edge provided a psychological boost for the travelling supporters and squad. The match represented an opportunity to climb the standings and build momentum.
Who was unavailable for Bolton?
Among the players sidelined for Bolton was first-choice goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu. His absence continued to be a factor in team selection. Fans can check the latest availability updates on the club's injuries page. The team's next challenge is a quick turnaround, with a home fixture against West Ham United scheduled for Tuesday, September 8. West Ham currently sit 12th in the table. The full schedule of upcoming matches is available on the fixtures page.
The final whistle confirmed another positive result for Bolton at The Den, maintaining their impressive unbeaten streak at the ground. The team now prepares to host West Ham at the University of Bolton Stadium in three days' time.
