Bolton hope to continue recent revival with visit to Forest Green Rovers

Bolton Wanderers travel to Forest Green Rovers on Saturday in hopes of continuing their recent League Two revival following a tumultuous few years.

The final day of the 2017/2018 campaign should have been one of newfound hope and expectation for Bolton Wanderers as they recovered from a 2-1 deficit to beat Nottingham Forest 3-2 in the dying moments to clinch their spot in the 2018/2019 Championship season.

All it turned out to be for the Lancashire side, however, was the beginning of the end – a false dawn. A miserable season followed, with Bolton finishing the season in the relegation zone comfortably, and League One football returning to the University of Bolton Stadium once again.

Relegation, it turned out, was the least of their worries, winding up petitions, and an owner who had lost interest, meant that the club fell into administration. Not only would they be playing third tier football the following season, but they would be doing so with a threadbare squad and a 12 point deduction.

Finally, Bolton’s ownership conundrum was put to rest as Football Ventures (Whites) Limited bought them in August 2019, but this provided scant consolation for a battered and bruised fanbase, who watched as their side floundered, notching up just 14 points by the end of the season.

This season, however, was supposed to be different. They had overcome their financial and ownership problems, and made a shrewd appointment as they pickpocketed newly-promoted Barrow of their manager, Ian Evatt.

Yet, whilst boardroom problems had eased, on-pitch struggles continued, with the Trotters kicking off the 2020/2021 campaign with three straight defeats.

Despite slight improvements, Bolton still sat in a lowly 19th position at the beginning of February, and a season of stabilising the club in the fourth tier looked to be on the cards.

However, Evatt’s side have been revitalised since, going on an eleven match unbeaten run, winning nine – lifting them up a staggering 15 places to fourth in the standings. Now just two points adrift of the automatic promotion places, a season of glory could be achieved – something that seemed impossible just a month ago.

Their next game is a vital one if they are to realise their promotion credentials as they take on the side that currently take up the third promotion spot in Forest Green Rovers.

The result will be a marker of how far Bolton have progressed as a home fixture against the same opponents on the opening day of the season saw them get off to a losing start. Carl Winchester’s strike in the second half consigned Wanderers to defeat, and they will be keen to enact revenge when visiting the New Lawn on Saturday.

Forest Green will have to be ready for a completely different Bolton side  to the one they came up against in August. Fresh off the back of three straight victories, Wanderers are a side brimming with confidence – a stark contrast to a club that came into League Two at an all-time low.

Eoin Doyle also presents a huge threat, scoring four goals in the last seven matches of their unbeaten run. It’s not just Doyle that has engineered the upturn in form, however, as Bolton’s defence has transformed into a well-oiled machine. After keeping just seven clean sheets in their first 25 games, Wanderers have conceded just six goals since early February and kept six clean sheets.

A look at where the two clubs were in the 2011/2012 season truly marks the contrast in fortunes in the last decade, with Rovers battling in the Conference National, whilst Bolton were living the dream in the Premier League.

Football can sometimes be a cruel game, however, and that is no better evidenced than with the situation at Bolton, and everyone associated with the Trotters will be hoping that this is not another false dawn, but a sign of a possible return to some sort of success.

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