Posh host Bolton Wanderers at the Weston Homes Stadium on Saturday afternoon (3pm).
Peterborough United welcome Bolton Wanderers to the Weston Homes Stadium in Sky Bet League One action on Saturday afternoon (3pm) looking to make it four wins from four since the return of Darren Ferguson as the club’s manager.
A 2-0 success at Port Vale, a 2-1 victory over Portsmouth and a 2-0 win at Forest Green Rovers moved Posh to within three points of the play-off positions. However, Saturday’s opponents Bolton are in excellent form themselves and are currently comfortably inside the top six.
Bolton beat Cheltenham 1-0 last time out thanks to a fine strike from former Posh loanee Kyle Dempsey inside the last 10 minutes.
TEAM NEWS
Posh midfielder Jack Taylor has been declared fit to play after a precautionary scan following his substitution in the second half of the win at Forest Green. Oliver Norburn is expected to play 45 minutes for the under 21s against Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday.
The Trotters will definitely be without eight senior players because of injury of suspension, according to the Bolton News, including transfer window loan signing Dan Nlundulu and Liverpool loanee Conor Bradley who has been a major player for his team this season. Wing-back Bradley is suspended after collecting his 10th caution of the season last weekend.
Other Bolton players who will also miss out on a clash between the teams in fourth and seventh are George Johnston (ankle), Jon Dadi Bodvarsson (ankle), George Thomason (knee), Jack Iredale (knee), MJ Williams (knee), and Elias Kachunga (suspended).
ONE TO WATCH
Striker Dion Charles (pictured below) remains the main man in terms of attackers for the Trotters. The former Accrington Stanley man has lead the line superbly for Ian Evatt’s men and has netted 11 times in league action. He has made eight appearances for Northern Ireland after three appearances at under 21 level. He provides excellent movement, is a clinical finisher and the 27-year-old has already fought off pressure from a number of other front men in recent weeks.
FROM THE GAFFER
“I watched Bolton a few times when I was on a break from management and I have seen them in action a few times since I returned to the club and they are a good side. I think it will be a really good game. They are in a good position in the league table, they may have a few injuries and suspensions, but they signed some good players in the window. For us though, it is about consistency. That is in performance and in terms of results,” Ferguson said.
TICKET NEWS
Bolton have sold just over 1,500 tickets for the game and will be accommodated in the Deskgo Stand. Tickets remain on sale at www.theposhtickets.com and via the Weston Homes Stadium Box Office for the game with a good crowd expected.
POSH+
Match passes are available for overseas subscribers priced at £10. Audio passes are available in the UK and worldwide for £2.50.
PLAYED FOR BOTH
Bolton are actually packed with quite a few former Posh players including skipper Ricardo Santos (pictured below centre). Kyle Dempsey, Kieran Sadlier and Lloyd Isgrove (pictured below left) are also on the books of the Trotters, although Sadlier is now on loan at Leyton Orient.
So, who else has worn the shirts of both clubs? Well former Posh skipper Mark Beevers (pictured below right) for one. He is now plying his trade in Australia with Perth Glory and scored his first goal for his new club earlier this month.
Tony Philliskirk, Zat Knight, Ben Alnwick, Mark Little, Ben Amos, Posh legend Freddie Hill and former coach Phil Neal also make the list.
CLASSIC CONTEST
Posh beat Bolton Wanderers 5-4 back in 2012 thanks to goals from Lee Tomlin, Dwight Gayle, George Thorne, Gabriel Zakuani and Mark Little (pictured below). Posh+ subscribers can watch back the match highlights from that classic encounter by click here.
KIT COLOURS
Posh will be wearing the blue kit for the fixture.
MATCH COVERAGE
If you can’t make the game, you can follow all of the action in a number of ways.
- Live match updates on our official Twitter feed @theposh.
- Behind the scenes coverage and updates on our official Instagram story.
- Keep up to date with minute-by-minute updates on our Live Match Centre here.
- Download the official Peterborough United app to get all of the action direct to your smartphone.
MAN IN THE MIDDLE
The match referee is Lee Swabey.