Accrington vs Bolton Prediction 10.01.2024

• Competition: EFL Trophy
• Date: 10.01.2024
• Kickoff: 19:30 UK / 20:30 CET
• Venue: The Wham Stadium (Accrington)

Accrington is a participant in League Two and has been performing consistently well this season. Although they are not among the top clubs aiming for promotion, they still have a shot at entering the playoff zone and potentially moving up a rank. The team has maintained a good form in recent weeks, setting a strong precedent for the next match with their 3:0 victory against Salford in the league. Accrington held a three-goal lead in the first half of the match, and then comfortably saw out the remainder of the game. Standout player Jack Nolan, a young striker, contributed significantly to the win by scoring twice.

On the flip side, Bolton, a formerly stable Premier League team, has been stuck in the Championship-League One limbo for over a decade. They even dropped to the fourth tier of competition in the 20/21 season, but quickly bounced back to League One. This season, they are arguably playing their best football in years and a return to the Championship after a five-year absence seems likely. Thanks to a winning streak of four consecutive league games, Bolton has climbed to second place in the standings. Given that they have two fewer games played than other teams in the league, their odds of moving up directly to a higher rank are quite promising.

Accrington vs Bolton pick: ACCRINGTON TO WIN

The motivation behind clubs, particularly the top-tier ones, participating in this competition has always been intriguing. Regardless of the disparity in their league standards, Accrington enters this game with a decent prospect of a surprise and advancing to the quarter-finals. Bolton, having just played a strenuous game against Luton, managed to defy expectations and secure another victory, this time cheered on by their supporters. It is anticipated that they will focus all their efforts on this much more prestigious cup. Thus, it wouldn’t be shocking if guest manager Ian Evatt fields a mixed team in this contest, offering opportunities to players with less game time. The home team will see this as their chance, fueled by greater motivation and a hunger for victory. Last season, both clubs competed at the same level and had two engaging games. Interestingly, Accrington won the last head-to-head match by a slim margin, and it wouldn’t be unwelcome if a similar scenario played out again.