Form
Bolton Wanderers finished last season in eighth place in League One, one place and seven points behind Reading. This campaign marks their fifth straight year in the third tier, having won promotion from League Two in 2021, after finishing third.
The Trotters have won one, drawn one and lost one game so far this season, placing them 13th in the early league table after three games. Their one win came in a home game against Plymouth Argyle, while they come into this weekend’s game off the back of a 1-1
draw with Barnsley. Prior to last Saturday’s game they were knocked out of the League Cup, losing to Sheffield Wednesday on penalties after an entertaining 3-3 draw.
The two teams shared the spoils last season with Bolton claiming an impressive 5-2 win against the Royals at home early in the season, before Reading secured a 1-0 win at the Select Car Leasing Stadium after a Harvey Knibbs penalty.
The boss
Steven Schumacher: Schumacher was appointed Bolton manager in January this year, following the sacking of Ian Evatt, who had spent four and a half years in charge of the Trotters.
Schumacher had a 16-year career as a player, representing the likes of Bradford City, Crewe Alexandra and Bury, where he played as a midfielder. After coaching spells at Everton and Bury, Schumacher became assistant manager at Plymouth, serving as Ryan Lowe’s assistant.
He became Argyle boss in December 2021 following Lowe’s sacking and spent two years at the Pilgrims, guiding the club to the Championship in 2023, after finishing League One champions. The following season Schumacher was appointed Stoke City manager, but he only lasted nine months in charge of the Potters, as he was sacked last September.
Schumacher guided Bolton to an eighth-placed finish last season and has won eight of his 23 games in charge, giving him a win percentage of 35%. The 41-year-old likes his sides to play aggressive, front-footed football.
Squad
It’s been a busy summer in Bolton with 12 players coming through the door of the Toughsheet Community Stadium. Eight have joined on permanent deals and four on loan.
A number of signings came in on free transfers, including goalkeepers Nathan Broome and Tyler Miller, defender Richard Taylor and forward Sam Dalby, who arrived after the end of his contract at Wrexham. The Trotters also signed a number of players for undisclosed fees, with midfielders Xavi Simons (Hull City) and Ethan Erhahon (Lincoln City) and forwards Charlie Warren (Felixstowe & Walton) and Thierry Gale (Rapid Vienna) all joining the club.
Their loanees include goalkeeper Teddy Sharman-Lowe (Chelsea), wingers Amario Cozier-Duberry (Brighton & Hove Albion) and Ibrahim Cissoko (Toulouse) and striker Mason Burstow (Hull City).
Bolton are expected to be without defenders William Forrester and Richard Taylor, midfielder Kyle Dempsey and striker Victor Adeboyejo for this Wednesday’s clash.
Predicted lineup
Sharman-Lowe, Dacres-Cogley, Toal, Johnston, Conway, Sheehan, Simons, Cozier-Duberry, Randall, McAtee, Burstow
Key player
18. Eoin Toal: Defender Toal joined Bolton in July 2022 from Northern Irish side Derry City.
He started his career in Northern Ireland, coming through the ranks at Armagh City before making his professional debut at the age of 16. He joined Derry in 2017 and made 155 appearances for the club, while also becoming their captain.
Toal spent five years at Derry before moving to England with Bolton in 2017 for an undisclosed fee. Toal has gone on to make 107 appearances for Wanderers, scoring 11 goals. The 26-year-old has represented Northern Ireland at under-17, under-19 and under-21 level and has now won eight caps for the senior side.
Toal is a centre-back who is a good passer of the ball while also being strong in the air. He also has great leadership qualities and was named Bolton captain for the season this summer.
One to watch
19. Amario Cozier-Duberry: Winger Cozier-Duberry signed for Bolton this summer on a season-long loan from Premier League Brighton.
He spent time in the Arsenal academy and represented their under-18 and under-21 sides, scoring a total of 30 goals for the young Gunners. He left Arsenal in 2024 and went on to join Brighton on a free transfer.
Although he is yet to make a first-team appearance for the Seagulls, Cozier-Duberry gained experience of first-team football during a loan spell at Blackburn Rovers last season. The 20-year-old made 23 appearances for Rovers, scoring one goal.
He already has one Bolton goal to his name, having scored in their 3-3 draw against Sheffield Wednesday in the League Cup. Cozier-Duberry is a pacey winger: a good dribbler and comfortable with the ball at his feet.
