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Wanderers do not expect to be involved in a footballing classic at Fleetwood tonight.
More than 1,000 Bolton supporters will brave the elements in a sell-out away end at the compact Highbury Stadium knowing it could be one of the more unique trips they encounter in League One this season.
Ian Evatt, who is still only able to select from 12 fit outfield players, knows it could well be an evening to roll up the figurative sleeves with Fleetwood seeking a response from a 5-1 pounding at the hands of Accrington Stanley on Saturday.
There has been no indication that the weather will prevent the game going ahead, leaving Evatt to prepare for 90 minutes that might not be pleasing on the eye.
“If it is a game like we expect, with the wind and rain lashing down, then it might come down to who wants it the most. And I expect us to be highly motivated,” he told The Bolton News.
“We have to make sure we win our duels, the first and second contacts, defensively keep a good line, and then make sure we punish them in the second half.
“I think it will be a challenging game. I do think after Saturday that they will be highly motivated to get a result.”
The stats so far this season do not portray Fleetwood as an overtly physical or direct team, and their youthful team which played at the UniBol in the Papa John’s Trophy produced some good attacking football in a narrow defeat.
The conditions may change both sides’ approach, however, and having previously voiced concern over how his side have been “beaten up” he now feels more confident they can handle any extra physical pressure.
“It has been a problem, but I thought we did show it at Wycombe, which is as challenging as it gets in this division along with Rotherham United,” he said. “You know there will be physicality, you know they will put you under pressure, and I thought we stuck with it really well and deserved something out of the game and we will need to do something similar at Fleetwood.”
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