Bolton Wanderers face what is likely a season-defining game on Tuesday night, as they head to local rivals Wigan Athletic.
The Trotters fell to a 2-1 defeat against Blackpool on Saturday, meaning the team has now recorded three straight league defeats for the first time in over five years.
Wanderers have grown accustomed to losing local derbies in recent times, having not beaten Wigan for ten years. Whilst local bragging rights are on the line, Bolton Wanderers need a win in order to get back into the play-off race, with the club currently 8th, two points off the top six.
| Position | Team | Played | GD | Points |
| 6. | Reading | 38 | +8 | 62 |
| 7. | Huddersfield | 38 | +14 | 61 |
| 8. | Bolton | 38 | +3 | 60 |
| 9. | Orient | 38 | +16 | 59 |
Bolton Wanderers boss, Steven Schumacher acknowledged just how big Tuesday night’s game is.
“It is a huge game. I would have said the same to the lads if we had won or drawn (at Blackpool), you have to make sure you are ready to go and to compete, fight for everything, because it really is a massive game, and more so now that we have lost three in a row.
It’s not only for pride, passion or because it’s a local rival, we need points now because we will fall further away from the play-off mix, and the further away you fall the harder it becomes to get back into it. I showed them a presentation on Thursday morning, and I said: ‘The last nine games, this is going to be like a roller coaster.’ There’ll be ups and downs. (via The Bolton News)”
A Season of Highs and Lows
Bolton Wanderers have had a turbulent campaign. After losing the play-off final to Oxford United, former manager Ian Evatt failed to galvanise the team and was removed from his position after the team lost to Charlton Athletic in January.
The club moved to appoint former Plymouth Argyle and Stoke City boss Schumacher, since his appointment results have flipped, but the new man now finds his team in a rut at just the wrong time.
Worth More than Just Bragging Rights
For Wigan Athletic this game also carries more importance than beating their rivals once again. The Latics sit 18th, whilst they are eight points above the relegation zone, a win would solidify their position.
To add a little more spice to it, Ryan Lowe, Schumacher’s friend and former colleague at Plymouth, has just been installed as Wigan manager, turning the heat up even more for this matchup.
Wanderers fans will be hoping now that Schumacher is the man to finally turn their fortunes around against Wigan, end the local hoodoo, and start a run that gets them back in the race for the Championship.
