National cups are something special for many teams and supporters. Today's match will decide whether it's Bolton Wanderers or Fleetwood Town that keep their silverware dream alive.
It's no vacation for neither Bolton Wanderers nor Fleetwood Town as both were in action only a few days ago. Expect some tired legs on the pitch and/or possibly some changes to the lineups.
Bolton Wanderers form and stats
This is not the first game this season in the EFL Trophy for Wanderers, as the manager I. Evatt led his troops to eliminate Rochdale, Liverpool U21 and Port Vale, and reach the 2nd Round. Wanderers participated in EFL Trophy the last season, where they reached the group stage.4 victories, 4 draws and 2 defeats. That’s what Bolton Wanderers have to build on here at University of Bolton Stadium in the League One. On the other hand, in the EFL Trophy, Bolton Wanderers has performed like this (both home and away): 3 wins, 0 draws and 0 losses.
The spoils were shared in Bolton Wanderers's previous game, also at home. Visiting Cheltenham Town travelled back with a draw after a 2-2 scoreline. Midfielder Xavier Amaechi was the best player on the team with a rating of 8.01 (out of ten) in that game. Amaechi scored one goal, hit two key passes, dribled past the opponent 2 of 2 times and had 20 successful passes (of 24 total).
Ahead of that match, Wanderers won a home game hosting Doncaster Rovers (3-0).The Bolton Wanderers fans have had their share of opportunities to cheer home goals this season, having seen 16 goals in 10 league matches. Defensively it’s touch-and-go for the home team as 15 goals have been conceded.
Fleetwood Town form and stats
The traveling awayteam has defeated Accrington Stanley, Barrow and Leicester U21 in order to reach 2nd round of EFL Trophy. Fleetwood was sent out of EFL Trophy in the 3rd round last season.The hunting on away grounds haven’t been very fruitful for Fleetwood Town so far with only 7 points returning home. The records show 1-4-4 (win-draw-lose). Total EFL Trophy statistics for Fleetwood Town: 2 wins, 0 draws and 1 loss.
Fleetwood has to pack their bags again for the second away game in a row. Last time they traveled to AFC Wimbledon for a League One game that ended a draw (2-2). Callum Johnson, who plays in defense, got the "man of the match" on his team with the rating 7.31. Johnson scored one goal, hit one key pass and won 4 of 7 duels.
Preceding that game, the 1-3 loss visiting Oxford United's place.There might be some complaints about the fixture list from the Fleetwood manager S. Crainey as the team has another away game coming up in only four days, this time against Accrington Stanley.
Fleetwood are not goal shy away from home in the league, finding the net 15 times in 9 away games so far. The Fleetwood manager S. Crainey has some worries about the defense as 18 goals have been conceded in these travels.
Head 2 Head
Bolton Wanderers-Fleetwood Town H2H statistics last four meetings regardless of arena: Wanderers three wins, Fleetwood Town one win, zero draws. three of these four matches had three or more goals (over 2,5).Top Goalscorers
  O. Afolayan 7 goals |  D. Andrew 6 goals | G. Garner 6 goals |
Bolton Wanderers missing players
Fleetwood Town missing players
| Bolton Wanderers | Fleetwood Town | ||||||
| Total | Home | Statistics | Stat | Away | Total | ||
| 25 | 12 | Played | P | 12 | 25 | ||
| 10 | 6 | Won | W | 2 | 5 | ||
| 6 | 4 | Drew | D | 4 | 6 | ||
| 9 | 2 | Lost | L | 6 | 14 | ||
| 41 | 22 | Scored | S | 19 | 40 | ||
| 36 | 17 | Conceded | C | 24 | 51 | ||
| 92% | 92% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 100% | 100% | ||
| 68% | 92% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 92% | 88% | ||
| 60% | 75% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 83% | 84% | ||
| 40% | 50% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 50% | 52% | ||
| 24% | 17% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 17% | 28% | ||
| 44% | 58% | BTTS | BTTS | 83% | 76% | ||
| 24% | 25% | Clean Sheets | C S | 0% | 4% | ||
| 40% | 25% | Failed to Score | F T | 17% | 20% | ||
| 5.8 | 7.2 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 3.5 | 4.4 | ||
| 3.9 | 3.3 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 3.7 | 4.9 | ||
| 1.8 | 1.7 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 2.2 | 1.7 | ||
| 0 | 0 | Red cards | R C | 0 | 1 | ||
| 13.8 | 15.5 | Shots (avg) | S ( | 9.4 | 11 | ||
| 4.2 | 5.1 | Shots on Target (avg) | S O | 3.9 | 4 | ||
| 39% | 36% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 40% | 40% | ||
| 12 | 10.2 | Shots against (avg) | S A | 11.9 | 12.9 | ||
| 4.2 | 3.8 | Shots on Target against (avg) | S O | 4 | 4.4 | ||
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Rotherham United | 19 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 34 | 13 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 22 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 3 | 21 | 38 |
| 2 | Wigan Athletic | 18 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 34 | 16 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 22 | 8 | 18 | 38 |
| 3 | Wycombe Wanderers | 20 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 32 | 23 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 11 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 17 | 12 | 9 | 38 |
| 4 | Plymouth Argyle | 20 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 33 | 22 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 17 | 11 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 16 | 11 | 11 | 36 |
| 5 | Sunderland | 18 | 11 | 2 | 5 | 30 | 23 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 4 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 14 | 19 | 7 | 35 |
| 6 | Milton Keynes Dons | 19 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 37 | 24 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 22 | 14 | 13 | 34 |
| 7 | Sheffield Wednesday | 20 | 8 | 9 | 3 | 28 | 21 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 15 | 8 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 13 | 13 | 7 | 33 |
| 8 | Oxford United | 18 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 29 | 18 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 21 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 32 |
| 9 | Portsmouth | 20 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 26 | 22 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 10 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 12 | 12 | 4 | 32 |
| 10 | Burton Albion | 20 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 22 | 23 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 18 | 12 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 11 | -1 | 28 |
| 11 | Cheltenham Town | 19 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 26 | 30 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 19 | -4 | 27 |
| 12 | Bolton Wanderers | 20 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 29 | 29 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 16 | 15 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 13 | 14 | 0 | 26 |
| 13 | Ipswich Town | 19 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 34 | 29 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 19 | 16 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 15 | 13 | 5 | 24 |
| 14 | Accrington Stanley | 19 | 7 | 3 | 9 | 23 | 36 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 15 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 21 | -13 | 24 |
| 15 | Charlton Athletic | 20 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 26 | 27 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 15 | 14 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 13 | -1 | 23 |
| 16 | Cambridge United | 20 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 27 | 35 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 15 | 17 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 12 | 18 | -8 | 23 |
| 17 | AFC Wimbledon | 18 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 26 | 30 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 15 | 15 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 15 | -4 | 21 |
| 18 | Lincoln City | 19 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 20 | 24 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 11 | -4 | 21 |
| 19 | Shrewsbury Town | 19 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 18 | 25 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 14 | -7 | 19 |
| 20 | Morecambe | 19 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 29 | 37 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 17 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 15 | 20 | -8 | 19 |
| 21 | Gillingham | 20 | 3 | 8 | 9 | 16 | 27 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 14 | 10 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 13 | -11 | 17 |
| 22 | Fleetwood Town | 18 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 30 | 34 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 15 | 16 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 15 | 18 | -4 | 15 |
| 23 | Doncaster Rovers | 19 | 3 | 4 | 12 | 11 | 34 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 3 | 26 | -23 | 13 |
| 24 | Crewe Alexandra | 19 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 16 | 34 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 16 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 18 | -18 | 12 |