Bolton Wanderers and Crewe Alexandra meet on Friday night looking to end their respective winless streaks in League One.

While Wanderers are without a victory in five outings, bottom-placed Crewe have not prevailed in any of their last nine third-tier fixtures.

Match preview

© Reuters

There have been times this season when Bolton have looked like a team who could mount a charge for promotion to the Championship, but such ambition is far from Ian Evatt's mind ahead of their upcoming contest.

Wanderers' only win in seven came at Rochdale in the EFL Trophy, their most recent outing in the FA Cup ending in a 2-2 draw at home to National League side Stockport County.

Just three victories have been recorded in 12 league matches, while Wanderers have failed to score in four of their last five outings at this level.

Remaining just three points adrift of 10th position, Evatt knows that a maximum return on Friday would change their trajectory for the better.

However, this is a team which have now gone 10 matches without a clean sheet in League One, a trend which cannot continue if they want to make consistent progress up the table.

Matters are even worse for a Crewe side whose only two victories since September 21 have come in the EFL trophy, the latest arriving on Tuesday as they breezed past Wolverhampton Wanderers Under-21s.

In sharp contrast to their league form, Crewe have won every match in that competition, and David Artell needs that confidence to be carried over into more important fixtures over the coming weeks.

As well as bowing out of the FA Cup to Swindon Town, Crewe sit six points adrift of safety in League One, a consequence of just one success being posted since August.

Artell requires more out of striker Mikael Mandron, but the Frenchman showed his qualities by netting a double against Wolves earlier this week.

Team News

© Reuters

Bolton defender Liam Gordon is on standby to replace Declan John at left-back after the Welshman was replaced at half time against Stockport due to illness.

Josh Sheehan will return in midfield if he shakes off a back problem, while George Johnston should replace Alex Baptiste in defence.

After scoring twice in the EFL Trophy, Mandron is likely to get the nod over either Chris Porter or Scott Kashket in the Crewe attack.

Midfielder Scott Robertson will also expect to return, potentially in place of Madger Gomes.

The rest of the team is likely to be similar to the one which started against Swindon at the weekend.

Bolton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Dixon; Isgrove, Santos, Johnston, Gordon; Thomason, Williams, Lee; Kachunga, Doyle, Afolayan

Crewe Alexandra possible starting lineup:
Richards; Thomas, Daniels, Sass-Davies; Offord, Robertson, Murphy, Lowery, Adebisi; Kashket, Mandron

We say: Bolton Wanderers 2-1 Crewe Alexandra

With neither side excelling in recent weeks, we expect a scrappy encounter in the North-West. Despite Crewe gaining a bit of confidence earlier this week, Bolton should still have enough quality within their ranks to edge this contest by the odd goal.

Previews by email