Rovers are back in Nailsworth this weekend as we welcome the visit of Bolton Wanderers to The Bolt New Lawn on Saturday afternoon.

Head Coach Ian Burchnall and his FGR side will be hoping to get back on track in League One after last weekend’s late defeat to Burton Albion.

Here we take a look at Saturday’s opponents Bolton who return to GL6 for the first time since the 2020/21 campaign.

IN THE DUGOUT: IAN EVATT

Trotters boss Ian Evatt became the new Bolton boss in the Summer of 2020 as Bolton prepared to face the unfamiliar surroundings of League Two.

Evatt had a distinguished playing career in English football as the former centre back spent long spells with Blackpool and Chesterfield as well as time with QPR and Derby County, where he started his career.

The 40-year-old retired from professional football in 2018 having played games in all four leagues of the EFL.

He had a brief spell with Chesterfield as caretaker manager before taking up his first role with Barrow, who he guided to the Football League for the first time In his second season at Holker Street.

Evatt would leave the Bluebirds in the following season however as he became the new Bolton manager, where he had further success taking them back to League One in his first season.

Wanderers finished in ninth place last season under Evatt and have started off quickly this term currently sitting in sixth through 11 games.

ONE TO WATCH: CONOR BRADLEY

Liverpool loanee Conor Bradley joined Bolton at the start of the season for a first experience of senior football at the young age of 19.

Bradley grew up in Northern Ireland and played his youth football with St Patrick’s FC an Dungannon Swifts before heading to Merseyside in 2019.

The 19-year-old signed a professional contract with the club in 2020 and made his professional debut in the Carabao Cup against Norwich City just over a year ago.

The Northern Irish international joined the Trotters back in June and has gotten off to a flying start at the University of Bolton Stadium.

Bradley has already registered three goals and two assists in all competitions, the most goal involvements of any Bolton player so far this season.

FORM - LWWWW

03/09/22 – Bolton Wanderers 3-1 Charlton Athletic

13/09/22 – Milton Keynes Dons 0-2 Bolton Wanderers

17/09/22 – Bolton Wanderers 1-0 Peterborough United

01/10/22 – Bolton Wanderers 2-0 Lincoln City

04/10/22 – Cheltenham Town 1-0 Bolton Wanderers

PLAYED FOR BOTH SIDES

Former Rovers striker Christian Doidge joined the club in the Summer of 2016 and was a real fans favourite, most notably scoring in our National League play-off final triumph in 2017.

Doidge joined Bolton on loan for the first half of the 2018/19 season but would return to Nailsworth for the second half of the campaign.

The striker scored 59 times during his time in GL6 before he left to join Scottish Premiership side Hibernian ahead of the 2019/20 season.

LAST TIME OUT

Bolton’s run of four league wins in a row was ended as they fell to a late 1-0 defeat away to Cheltenham Town on Tuesday evening.

Cheltenham came close to taking the lead in the opening 45 through Dan N’Lundulu before Taylor Perry’s long-range effort was saved by James Trafford.

Wanderers failed to register a shot on target in the clash but came close after the break when Jack Iredale’s corner found captain Ricardo Santos who narrowly flicked over the bar.

Trafford was called into action again not long after as he superbly turned Lewis Freestone’s powerful over the bar.

But in the last five minutes they would be punished for the lack of attacking edge as Ryan Broom netted a late winner to secure the points for the hosts.