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Nigel Clough believes his Mansfield side will welcome a different Wanderers outfit tonight to the one they would have originally faced three weeks ago.
No Whites fan needs reminding that this will be the third attempt to get the game on at the One Call Stadium.
The original January 26 date fell victim to a frozen pitch with the surface deemed waterlogged seven days later when Ian Evatt’s men had already arrived at the ground.
Clough’s side had won five League Two games in a row ahead of the first scheduled meeting and still head into tonight’s game eight unbeaten on the back of draws at Walsall and Colchester.
The experienced former Burton, Derby and Sheffield United boss is well aware of how things have changed in the intervening period at the UniBol though with a host of new faces settling in for Wanderers.
“I think we’d have played the first game the first time it was postponed. I think if we left the decision until later, I think we’d have played then,” Clough told the Stags’ website yesterday.
“We’d have certainly played the night after if Bolton had agreed. But hopefully we’ll get the game on tomorrow night.
“It (Wanderers’ improving fortunes) won’t change our approach.
“They will be a different proposition to what they probably would’ve been a few weeks ago.
“That’s why we were probably desperate to play first time around as we were in such a good run of form. We wanted to play every few days before the interruption.
“We have to try and get that back on track and we’re not far from it at the moment, but Bolton will certainly be a bit more confident than they were a few weeks ago.
“We have picked up two good points on the road and now we need something from these next home two games, starting with Bolton.”
In terms of availability George Lapslie remains three or four weeks away with a hamstring injury while Oli Sarkic (thigh) and Kellan Gordon (knee) will not be available to face Wanderers but are closing in on returns to action.
“We do believe that the players do get into a groove or routine playing Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday,” Clough added.
“When you stop, no matter how much you do in training, unfortunately you pick up a couple of knocks.
“It is inevitable that you do get injuries but I think the squad is well equipped to deal with it.”
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No Whites fan needs reminding that this will be the third attempt to get the game on at the One Call Stadium.
The original January 26 date fell victim to a frozen pitch with the surface deemed waterlogged seven days later when Ian Evatt’s men had already arrived at the ground.
Clough’s side had won five League Two games in a row ahead of the first scheduled meeting and still head into tonight’s game eight unbeaten on the back of draws at Walsall and Colchester.
The experienced former Burton, Derby and Sheffield United boss is well aware of how things have changed in the intervening period at the UniBol though with a host of new faces settling in for Wanderers.
“I think we’d have played the first game the first time it was postponed. I think if we left the decision until later, I think we’d have played then,” Clough told the Stags’ website yesterday.
“We’d have certainly played the night after if Bolton had agreed. But hopefully we’ll get the game on tomorrow night.
“It (Wanderers’ improving fortunes) won’t change our approach.
“They will be a different proposition to what they probably would’ve been a few weeks ago.
“That’s why we were probably desperate to play first time around as we were in such a good run of form. We wanted to play every few days before the interruption.
“We have to try and get that back on track and we’re not far from it at the moment, but Bolton will certainly be a bit more confident than they were a few weeks ago.
“We have picked up two good points on the road and now we need something from these next home two games, starting with Bolton.”
In terms of availability George Lapslie remains three or four weeks away with a hamstring injury while Oli Sarkic (thigh) and Kellan Gordon (knee) will not be available to face Wanderers but are closing in on returns to action.
“We do believe that the players do get into a groove or routine playing Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday,” Clough added.
“When you stop, no matter how much you do in training, unfortunately you pick up a couple of knocks.
“It is inevitable that you do get injuries but I think the squad is well equipped to deal with it.”
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