National cups are something special for many teams and supporters. Today's match will decide whether it's Hartlepool United or Bolton Wanderers that keep their silverware dream alive.
It’s busy days for these teams as both were in action only a few days ago. There’s no rest for the wicked, or in this case; no rest for Hartlepool United and Bolton Wanderers.
Hartlepool United form and stats
Hartlepool have not come this way in the EFL Trophy without some hard work on the way, more precisely defeating Morecambe, Everton U21, Sheffield Wednesday and Carlisle United.The home supporters can't complain about results here at The Super 6 Stadium as Hartlepool United have scored 16 goals to get 24 points from 12 games. The overall stats in the League Two are 7-3-2 (wins-draws-losses). This match is a EFL Trophy match, and the hometeam has the total statistics 2 wins, 2 draws and 0 losses in this competition.
The spoils were shared in Hartlepool's previous game, also at home. Visiting Oldham Athletic travelled back with a draw after a 0-0 scoreline. Sterry, defender, was given a rating of 8.1/10 in that game, top of the team. Sterry hit four key passes and won 2 of 3 duels.
Prior to that, an away loss at Mansfield Town in the League Two.The match schedule is unforgiving for Hartlepool as they have a new game in only four days, a FA Cup match thankfully also at home. Blackpool are visiting.
The Hartlepool fans would probably like to see some more goals scored at their own stadium in the league, the tally being 16 in 12 matches. Hartlepool United have only conceded 11 from their league home games. For more goal stats, check the Statistics tab above.
Bolton Wanderers form and stats
The traveling awayteam has defeated Rochdale, Liverpool U21, Port Vale and Fleetwood Town in order to reach 3rd round of EFL Trophy. Last season their EFL Trophy adventure ended in the group stage.Bolton Wanderers have only collected 10 points from their away games in the League One, after 3-1-9 (13 played). When we have look at the EFL Trophy statistics, we find 4W-0D-0L. This is both home and away.
Bolton Wanderers lost away at Rotherham United (1-2) in their previous game and are perhaps starting to feel homesick. Doyle, attacking player, was the top performer on the team in that game, scoring a match rating of 7.6. Doyle scored one goal.
A 0-1 defeat away at Accrington Stanley before that.Scoring goals is the main ingredient in creating success in football, and not only at home. So far Wanderers have scored 14 goals in 13 league games away. Wanderers's defence is not exactly unbeatable as they have conceded 20 goals from these trips.
Head 2 Head
Top Goalscorers
  O. Afolayan 7 goals | E. Doyle 5 goals |  M. Cullen 4 goals |
Hartlepool United missing players
Bolton Wanderers missing players
| Hartlepool United | Bolton Wanderers | ||||||
| Total | Home | Statistics | Stat | Away | Total | ||
| 25 | 12 | Played | P | 13 | 25 | ||
| 9 | 5 | Won | W | 3 | 9 | ||
| 6 | 5 | Drew | D | 0 | 4 | ||
| 10 | 2 | Lost | L | 10 | 12 | ||
| 27 | 16 | Scored | S | 16 | 37 | ||
| 34 | 14 | Conceded | C | 22 | 38 | ||
| 88% | 83% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 100% | 96% | ||
| 64% | 67% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 54% | 68% | ||
| 48% | 58% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 54% | 60% | ||
| 32% | 33% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 23% | 36% | ||
| 12% | 8% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 23% | 20% | ||
| 44% | 67% | BTTS | BTTS | 31% | 40% | ||
| 32% | 33% | Clean Sheets | C S | 8% | 20% | ||
| 36% | 17% | Failed to Score | F T | 62% | 44% | ||
| 4.5 | 5.8 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 4.8 | 5.9 | ||
| 5 | 3.2 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 4.9 | 4.1 | ||
| 1.5 | 1.5 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 1.7 | 1.7 | ||
| 1 | 1 | Red cards | R C | 1 | 1 | ||
| 10.2 | 12.3 | Shots (avg) | S ( | 12.2 | 13.6 | ||
| 3.4 | 4.1 | Shots on Target (avg) | S O | 3.5 | 4.3 | ||
| 32% | 33% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 35% | 35% | ||
| 11.8 | 10.1 | Shots against (avg) | S A | 13.5 | 11.6 | ||
| 4.2 | 4.1 | Shots on Target against (avg) | S O | 4.4 | 3.9 | ||
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Forest Green Rovers | 21 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 45 | 20 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 18 | 9 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 27 | 11 | 25 | 47 |
| 2 | Northampton Town | 22 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 31 | 22 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 7 | 12 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 15 | 15 | 9 | 40 |
| 3 | Sutton United | 23 | 12 | 3 | 8 | 35 | 28 | 11 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 19 | 10 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 16 | 18 | 7 | 39 |
| 4 | Tranmere Rovers | 22 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 20 | 14 | 11 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 6 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 38 |
| 5 | Swindon Town | 22 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 34 | 26 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 13 | 8 | 37 |
| 6 | Port Vale | 21 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 35 | 23 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 16 | 8 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 19 | 15 | 12 | 35 |
| 7 | Newport County | 23 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 38 | 32 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 20 | 11 | 13 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 18 | 21 | 6 | 35 |
| 8 | Exeter City | 22 | 8 | 9 | 5 | 33 | 26 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 17 | 11 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 16 | 15 | 7 | 33 |
| 9 | Mansfield Town | 22 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 27 | 28 | 13 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 20 | 15 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 13 | -1 | 32 |
| 10 | Leyton Orient | 22 | 7 | 10 | 5 | 37 | 21 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 24 | 7 | 11 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 31 |
| 11 | Harrogate Town | 22 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 35 | 31 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 18 | 18 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 17 | 13 | 4 | 30 |
| 12 | Bradford City | 22 | 6 | 11 | 5 | 29 | 26 | 11 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 17 | 13 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 13 | 3 | 29 |
| 13 | Walsall | 22 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 28 | 27 | 12 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 19 | 17 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 10 | 1 | 29 |
| 14 | Crawley Town | 21 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 26 | 31 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 15 | 17 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 14 | -5 | 28 |
| 15 | Hartlepool United | 23 | 8 | 4 | 11 | 24 | 34 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 16 | 11 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 8 | 23 | -10 | 28 |
| 16 | Salford City | 21 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 24 | 21 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 14 | 7 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 14 | 3 | 27 |
| 17 | Rochdale | 22 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 30 | 30 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 16 | 18 | 0 | 27 |
| 18 | Bristol Rovers | 21 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 27 | 33 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 17 | 18 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 15 | -6 | 26 |
| 19 | Barrow | 23 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 23 | 28 | 12 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 14 | -5 | 23 |
| 20 | Colchester United | 21 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 17 | 28 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 16 | -11 | 22 |
| 21 | Carlisle United | 22 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 16 | 29 | 10 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 10 | 20 | -13 | 22 |
| 22 | Stevenage | 23 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 16 | 36 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 6 | 23 | -20 | 20 |
| 23 | Scunthorpe United | 23 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 19 | 38 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 16 | 12 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 22 | -19 | 19 |
| 24 | Oldham Athletic | 24 | 4 | 6 | 14 | 22 | 39 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 16 | 25 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 14 | -17 | 18 |
| 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 | 24 | 15 | 5 | 4 | 45 | 17 | 13 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 32 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 13 | 4 | 28 | 50 |
| 2 | Sunderland | 24 | 15 | 4 | 5 | 47 | 26 | 12 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 29 | 6 | 12 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 49 |
| 3 | Wigan Athletic | 21 | 14 | 3 | 4 | 40 | 20 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 25 | 10 | 20 | 45 |
| 4 | Wycombe Wanderers | 24 | 13 | 6 | 5 | 37 | 27 | 11 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 19 | 14 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 18 | 13 | 10 | 45 |
| 5 | Oxford United | 24 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 40 | 25 | 14 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 27 | 13 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 43 |
| 6 | Plymouth Argyle | 24 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 38 | 25 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 18 | 11 | 12 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 20 | 14 | 13 | 43 |
| 7 | Milton Keynes Dons | 23 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 42 | 29 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 17 | 13 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 25 | 16 | 13 | 39 |
| 8 | Sheffield Wednesday | 23 | 9 | 10 | 4 | 30 | 26 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 15 | 8 | 13 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 15 | 18 | 4 | 37 |
| 9 | Portsmouth | 22 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 28 | 22 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 16 | 10 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 12 | 12 | 6 | 36 |
| 10 | Accrington Stanley | 24 | 10 | 4 | 10 | 30 | 39 | 12 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 19 | 18 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 21 | -9 | 34 |
| 11 | Ipswich Town | 24 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 39 | 34 | 13 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 23 | 18 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 16 | 16 | 5 | 32 |
| 12 | Burton Albion | 23 | 9 | 4 | 10 | 28 | 29 | 12 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 22 | 13 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 16 | -1 | 31 |
| 13 | Charlton Athletic | 24 | 8 | 5 | 11 | 30 | 29 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 19 | 15 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 14 | 1 | 29 |
| 14 | Cheltenham Town | 24 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 30 | 43 | 12 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 15 | 20 | 12 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 15 | 23 | -13 | 29 |
| 15 | Shrewsbury Town | 24 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 25 | 29 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 16 | 12 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 17 | -4 | 26 |
| 16 | Bolton Wanderers | 23 | 7 | 5 | 11 | 30 | 35 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 14 | 20 | -5 | 26 |
| 17 | Cambridge United | 23 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 32 | 38 | 12 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 15 | 18 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 17 | 20 | -6 | 26 |
| 18 | AFC Wimbledon | 21 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 30 | 35 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 15 | 20 | -5 | 25 |
| 19 | Fleetwood Town | 23 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 36 | 43 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 20 | 20 | 11 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 16 | 23 | -7 | 22 |
| 20 | Lincoln City | 22 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 24 | 31 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 14 | 15 | -7 | 22 |
| 21 | Morecambe | 23 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 30 | 46 | 12 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 15 | 19 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 15 | 27 | -16 | 20 |
| 22 | Gillingham | 23 | 3 | 9 | 11 | 18 | 34 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 14 | 13 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 20 | -16 | 18 |
| 23 | Crewe Alexandra | 24 | 4 | 6 | 14 | 22 | 43 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 18 | 13 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 10 | 25 | -21 | 18 |
| 24 | Doncaster Rovers | 22 | 4 | 4 | 14 | 13 | 39 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 13 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 3 | 26 | -26 | 16 |
