Cup action returns to the LNER Stadium on Tuesday night, as Lincoln City face fellow League One play-off hopefuls Bolton Wanderers in the last 16 of the Vertu Trophy.
In the last regionalised round of the cup, Lincoln will look to progress to the quarter-finals of the EFL Trophy for the first time since 2022/23, when they lost on penalties to Accrington Stanley
Opposition: Bolton Wanderers
Bolton topped North Group D in the group stage, progressing through to the last 32 when they defeated Huddersfield Town, 3-1.
In league action, last season’s losing League One play-off finalists are tenth after 24 games, five points ahead of the Imps.
Their defeat away to Rotherham United at the weekend prompted a scathing post-match assessment by manager Ian Evatt – branding his group of players “mentally fragile”, criticising their effort and application in South Yorkshire.
Team News:
George Wickens remains sidelined with a shoulder problem, as does Tyler Walker with his ongoing calf injury.
Erik Ring returned to the squad in Saturday’s FA Cup defeat to Birmingham City, being brought off the bench with four minutes left of the game, and could feature again.
Head-to-Head:
These two sides last faced one another over the festive period, with Bolton coming out 3-0 victors. Ethan Erhahon was sent off just before the interval.
The Imps have won just one of their last thirteen fixtures with Wanderers – that win coming in League One in January 2020.
Two of the last three meetings have ended in 3-0 victories for Bolton, both away ties for Lincoln, and the other was a 1-0 defeat on Boxing Day 2023 when Eion Toal scored an 89th minute winner.
Played for Both: Tyler Walker
Current Lincoln City striker Tyler Walker joined Bolton Wanderers on loan from Nottingham Forest on deadline day of January 2018. He played just five times for Bolton under Phil Parkinson’s stewardship.
18 months later, Walker joined City on loan, also from Forest. In 29 league outings Walker scored 14 times, also netting an additional two in cup action, before being recalled by Forest manager Sabri Lamouchi in January.
Walker returned to Sincil Bank in July 2023, penning a two-year-deal. Injuries have plagued his return though, with the forward looking set to miss most of the remainder of the campaign.
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