Bolton Wanderers are mounting a serious challenge to return to the Championship at the first time of asking following their relegation to the third tier last season. The Trotters endured a miserable 2015-16 campaign, finishing bottom of the table and amassing just 30 points.
Since the arrival of Phil Parkinson, the club's fortunes have taken a major upswing and are now pushing for an automatic promotion place. There are four teams at the top of League One jostling for the two spots, with Sheffield United and Scunthorpe United keeping the Trotters and Fleetwood Town at bay for now.
However, there is plenty of time for Parkinson and his men to overhaul their rivals at the top and even ascend back into the second tier as champions. Bolton are backed in the latest football tips and odds at 7/1 to win the League One title, and given the fact they have two games in hand over the Blades – they could well achieve the feat to bounce back at the first attempt.
Bolton's primary area of struggle last season was their poor defensive record. The Trotters conceded 81 goals in their 46 matches in the Championship, but Parkinson has managed to build a resilience at the back this term. His side have allowed just 25 goals – the lowest amount in the division – keeping 11 clean sheets in the process.
Their defensive form has been the foundation of their success, with Mark Beevers and David Wheater starring in the middle of the backline, while Ben Alnwick has provided a reassuring presence between the sticks. A strong defence is often the key characteristic of a surge for promotion and should the Trotters maintain their level of excellence at the back – then there is no reason why they could not clinch one of the top two spots in the table.
Problems have occurred at the other end of the pitch and one factor that could prevent the club from securing automatic promotion is the sale of Zach Clough. The 21-year-old was the Trotters' top scorer with nine strikes in the league, notching almost a fifth of their goals this season.
The effects of his departure have not been felt as of yet, but Gary Madine and loan signing Chris Long will have to fire in front of goal to ensure that their side's push does not fall short towards the end of the term. Considering that Sheffield United and Scunthorpe have the two strongest attacks in the division – scoring 59 and 58 goals respectively – this could well be the deciding factor in who goes up automatically and who is forced to go through the lottery of the playoffs.
Bolton's form at the Macron Stadium has been extremely impressive this season, losing just three of their 17 matches. Fleetwood and the Blades have an identical record, meaning that Parkinson's men must remain flawless at home to continue their surge towards the Championship. The Trotters face only two teams in the top half of the table in their remaining six matches on home soil, which gives them a solid opportunity to take maximum points from their fixtures.
It will be a fascinating run until the end of April and Parkinson's men have the ability along with the experience to get over the line.
