Bolton Wanderers travel to the JobServe Community Stadium on Saturday 19 September to face Colchester United in their second League Two game of the 2020/21 campaign.

Last time out, the U's drew 0-0 away at Bradford City, whilst also losing both games in the Carabao Cup and EFL Trophy against Reading and Portsmouth respectively, so they will be desperate to pick up a result in this one.

As for Bolton, they lost their first league game of the season 1-0 at home to Forest Green Rovers, after losing to both Bradford in the Carabao Cup and Crewe Alexandra in the EFL Trophy, making them just as eager to pick up their first result of the season.

Team news

Colchester

For the hosts, Luke Norris could make his first appearance of the season following a knee injury, whilst Callum Harriot’s fitness will be assessed prior to the game after he suffered a slight hamstring injury.

Paris Cowan-Hall remains sidelined, whilst there has been no update on the absence of striker Martell Taylor-Crossdale.

Bolton

Dennis Politic is out for Bolton with a long term anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.

The Trotters boss Ian Evatt has confirmed that there will be more players unavailable for this clash, he said:

“Yes, [there are injury concerns], we’ve got one or two. I’m not going to name names for obvious reasons but we have one or two.

“Fresh ones. I would say three to four weeks [out]."

Predicted lineups

Colchester

(4-2-3-1): Gerken; Bramall, Smith, Eastman, Scarlett; Stevenson, Pell; Gambin, Chilvers, Poku; Brown.

Bolton

(3-4-1-2): Crellin; Greenidge, Baptiste, Santos; Gordon, White, Crawford, Jones; Sarcevic; Doyle, Delfouneso.

Ones to watch

Tom Eastman (Colchester)

Colchester's 2019/20 player of the season Tom Eastman played 36 times for the club in the last campaign, scoring and assisting on three occasions. The defender is an experienced and trusted character for the U's and has played in all three competitive fixtures so far in 20/21.

In the first game of this season, the 28-year-old won eight aerial duels, which is almost double what he managed on average last campaign, he will be hoping to have another successful season but will certainly be provided with a tough test against Bolton.

Eoin Doyle (Bolton)

Whilst playing for Swindon Town last season, former Preston North End striker Eoin Doyle scored 26 goals and made five assists in 34 League Two appearances, making him the official 'Sky Bet League Two player of the year'.

This has made his signature a very exciting one for Trotters fans, who will be hoping he can replicate that kind of form this time around, starting with his first competitive goal for the club on the weekend.

Previous meetings

This is a very rare meeting between the two clubs, who have met each other in competitive action on just two occasions. They played during the 1987/88 Division Four season, where Colchester won the first meeting 3-0 before Bolton got their revenge later in the campaign with a 4-0 victory.

Whether there will be that many goals scored against each other in the 20/21 season is yet to be seen, although there will be two more games between the sides to add to the history books.

Where to watch on TV

This game can be viewed live by supporters through an official stream on both club websites, it is available to purchase on 'iFollow Col U' and 'iFollow BWFC'. 

The game, on September 19, will kick-off at 15:00 BST.