Bolton Wanderers Match Preview

West Ham United let a two-goal advantage slip in their opening weekend clash at Burnley last month so they will be looking to put things right this time around when they head back to Lancashire and face newly-promoted Bolton Wanderers at The Toughsheet Community Stadium tonight.

The Irons have a busy schedule ahead before the first international break of the season. That includes this week, where they play two games in the space of three days as Wrexham make the trip to East London on Friday.

Having started September unbeaten, the Hammers will look to carry that momentum into this game against Steven Schumacher’s side.

Playing under lights was obviously the spur that Nuno Espírito Santo’s men needed, as they beat fellow relegated club Wolverhampton Wanderers in Stratford a week ago and then followed that with a 3-0 victory over Derby County here just four days later.

Bolton were promoted from Sky Bet League One via the play-offs last season and despite starting the new campaign with a 2-1 home success against fierce rivals Preston North End on the opening weekend, the Trotters are winless in their last three matches and are currently just above the relegation zone. Will the Irons be able to secure a first victory on the road since the 1-0 success at Fulham all the way back on 4 March? Not only that, but the Portuguese Head-Coach will try to steer his side towards a first ever success at this stadium. Put all that together and the ever-loyal fanbase will have been thinking that an away success in the league is well overdue.

Pablo Felipe missed the victory over the Rams three days ago and will again have to be assessed, while Espírito Santo also has concerns over Valentín Castellanos who was replaced on sixty five minutes by youngster Lewis Orford in the same match.

Joël Veltman and Kyle Walker-Peters may swap places again, while Edvin Austbø will be pushing for his first start following his goal at the weekend. Morato and Adama Boiro are also in contention.

Tonight’s match kicks off at 8pm with live coverage being screened by Sky Sports from 7:55pm. The referee is David Webb.