Match Preview: Bolton Wanderers v Portsmouth (Saturday, 3pm)

Bolton Wanderers face a challenge to maintain their high-scoring form at home against a tight Portsmouth defence on Saturday.

With 78 goals in 42 games, Bolton are the second-highest scorers in League One ahead of the 3pm kick-off at the University of Bolton Stadium.

They face a Pompey side who have scored 71 in 42 matches, but conceded only 36 goals, putting them second among the league’s tightest defences – only Lincoln City have conceded fewer goals.

Portsmouth are top of the table after 42 games, of which they have won 26 and drawn 12, earning 90 points.

Bolton are two places behind Pompey in third, with 24 wins and nine draws putting them on 81 points.

With Will Norris between the sticks, the visitors can rely on one of the league’s safest pair of hands. He has kept 18 clean sheets in his 42 appearances this season, and no ‘keeper has prevented the opposition scoring more often in League One.

In Wanderers’ net, Nathan Baxter has 13 clean sheets in 29 games. He has conceded a goal every 104 minutes, 10% more often than the 115 minutes between goals for Norris.

In the last 10 years, Bolton and Portsmouth have played each other on eight occasions. Bolton won two of them, Portsmouth five, and they drew once.

On average, Bolton scored 0.8 goals and Pompey 1.1 in those matches.

Their last meeting was on December 11, when Portsmouth won 2-0 at home.

The home team are in reasonable form in League One, with three wins and two draws from their last six games.

With four wins and two draws over that period, Portsmouth’s form is better – they have taken 14 points from 18, compared to Bolton’s 11.

Bolton’s last match was on April 6, a 2-0 win against Bristol Rovers, with Aaron Collins and Aaron Morley getting the goals for Bolton.

Portsmouth beat Shrewsbury Town 3-1 last time out, also on April 6, with Colby Bishop (two) and Cheyenne Dunkley (own goal) on the scoresheet.

Saturday’s match will be refereed by Anthony Backhouse, who has taken charge of six League One games so far this season, issuing one red card and booking 23 players. He has awarded one penalty.

He is yet to oversee a match featuring either Bolton or Portsmouth this season.

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Bolton Wanderers v Portsmouth
League One | University of Bolton Stadium
Saturday, 13 April 2024 @ 3.00pm

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