Bolton v Salford: League Two predictions, analysis, free betting tips & TV

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Bolton Wanderers v Salford City in League Two on Friday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Football, 7.45pm Friday

Best bet

Salford
1pt 5-4 Hills

Team news

Bolton
Striker Eoin Doyle is expected to shake off a hamstring strain.

Salford
Veteran midfielder Darron Gibson (broken leg) is a long-term absentee.

Match preview

Three years ago there was a four-division gap between Championship club Bolton and Salford, who were competing in the National League North.

Now they are preparing to lock horns in a League Two fixture at the University of Bolton Stadium on Friday night and cash-rich Salford look worthy favourites to prevail.

Salford have won four promotions in the last six seasons and are in a hurry to make further progress.

Their ownership – which includes former Manchester United stars Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Nicky Butt – are quite prepared to make tough decisions and they showed a ruthless edge in October by dismissing manager Graham Alexander, who had presided over an unbeaten start to the campaign.

It was felt that Alexander's cautious style of play was not getting the best out of the players and his replacement, Richie Wellens, has been brought in to deliver a more exciting brand of football.

Wellens was persuaded to drop down a division by relinquishing his post at League One Swindon and he made a positive start by leading the Ammies to a 2-0 extra-time success at home to Hartlepool in the FA Cup first round.

He will be judged primarily on league results and has the right pedigree, having led Swindon to the top of League Two by the time the season was suspended in March.

The clear brief for Wellens is to win another promotion and there is work to do with Salford three points outside of the playoffs and five adrift of the top three.

However, they are far better placed than Bolton, who are languishing in 20th place after taking ten points from 11 games.

The Trotters started the season with new ownership and high hopes but their new-look squad is taking time to gel and manager Ian Evatt is coming under pressure to get them a lot closer to the promotion picture.

Injuries to key players haven't helped although Evatt received a big boost this week with key striker Eoin Doyle returning to contention after a hamstring problem.

Bolton have scored just nine league goals and a lot of their hopes are pinned on Doyle, who was the division's top scorer last term with 23 goals in 22 appearances for Swindon.

Wellens has huge respect for his former striker and knows the importance of keeping him quiet. But his first thought is always to play on the front foot and he has some excellent tools at his disposal with Salford strikers Ian Henderson (six league goals) and James Wilson (four) starting the season impressively.

The new City boss will be looking to provide Henderson and Wilson with even better service and his positive approach could deliver victory over Bolton, whose shaky start to the season looks set to continue.

Key stat

Bolton have won only one of their last 11 home fixtures.

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