Wanderers host managerless MK Dons in League One season opener at UNIBOL

Having earned promotion at the first time of asking – and with a feel-good factor now back around the club – Bolton Wanderers are back in League One, welcoming MK Dons to the University of Bolton stadium for the campaign’s opening game.

A poor start to the previous season meant that it took Ian Evatt’s side until February to really get going. They recovered miraculously and in the space of just three months climbed from 19^th in the League Two table to clinch the third and final automatic promotion spot with victory over Crawley Town on the final day.

Targets for the upcoming season have been set high by manager Evatt who has said the players should be aiming for promotion with mediocrity being unacceptable. Achieving that aim will be a mightily tough ask, and may be a stretch too far, though never say never with such a driven and determined figure at the helm.

As for the Dons, this will be their third consecutive season in English football’s third tier and last time around, they experienced a mediocre campaign with a 13^th place finish. Nine points off the play-off spots, continuous improvement will be what is desired, but they will now have to try and achieve that without boss Russell Martin.

Just six days before the season’s start, Martin left the club to join Championship outfit Swansea City and has left the Dons in limbo. With no replacement appointed yet, it has been announced that long-term club servant Dean Lewington will take charge at the UNIBOL.

Pre-Season

Results in the build-up matches for any season count for little, but they are still worth looking at.

Bolton have enjoyed a completely unbeaten pre-season schedule as a club, winning four out of six first team games and seeing an ‘XI’ defeat Chorley before drawing with Chester. Notably, the first team played out a 2-2 draw with Championship club Blackburn Rovers last weekend as summer signing George Johnston netted.

MK Dons meanwhile have had quieter build-up to the season on the pitch, playing just three friendlies but coincidentally, all three ended with the same scoreline of 3-1. Non-league side King’s Lynn kicked things off, the Dons victorious there, but defeats to both Bristol City and Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur at Stadium MK followed.

MK have already played a competitive game. Their Carabao Cup Round One tie took place at Bournemouth last weekend with them losing 5-0, conceding four second half goals. 37-year-old player turned interim manager Lewington was an unused substitute at the Vitality stadium.

Head-to-Head

Formed in 2004 when Bolton were up in the Premier League, the Dons have only ever come up against the Wanderers on six occasions with all of those coming from 2015 onwards.

It’s all-square when looking at the record from those six games too. Two victories for the Whites (2016 and 2019), two for MK (2015 and 2020) and two draws (2016 and 2017).

If you had to split the pair, it would go to Bolton on goals scored by 6-5, but let’s be honest, that counts for nothing with regards to Saturday!

With no restrictions on crowd capacity, the UNIBOL will play host to fans in a competitive fixture for the first time since February 29, 2020. Circa 15,000 are expected to attend so the atmosphere promises to be excellent.

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