Burton Albion travel to Bolton Wanderers in the Sky Bet League One's first televised Monday night football tie. 

The home side have won two, drew two and lost one in their first five games this season with Oladapo Afolayan proving crucial for the Wanderers. Last season Ian Evett secured promotion with Bolton and he is impressing again so far this season. 

So far only Cambridge United from the newly promoted clubs are doing better than Bolton, sitting two positions higher - with the same points total. 

The Brewers have won three, drew one and lost one with their only defeat coming after Tom Hamer scored two own goals against Cambridge. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's side have been winning well but not by scoring plenty of goals. He will hope this will change going forward with new additions and regulars returning from injury. 

  • Team news 

The hosts will be without Declan John, who picked up an illness believed not to be related to COVID-19. International duties call for Josh Sheehan who will also not be with the squad on Monday as he is with the Wales camp. 

Kieran Lee is back after a groin strain kept him out for the last two games against Cambridge and Port Vale. 

Albion will be without two of their new deadline day signings for Monday's clash against Bolton Wanderers. Daniel Jebbison is with England's U18s whilst Sam Hughes is still out with a knee injury. Kane Hemmings is however fit to return. 

Michael Mancienne, Jacob Maddox and Deji Oshilaja are all still out with either knee or ankle problems they have picked up this season leaving Hasselbaink with a smaller pool of players to pick from. 

  • Predicted lineups

Bolton Wanderers: Dixon; Jones, Santos, Johnston, Gordon; Williams, Lee, Sarcevic; Isgrove, Doyle, Afolayan

Burton Albion: Garratt, Brayford, Shaughnssey, Leak, Hamer, Morris, Borthwick-Jackson, Smith, Powell, Akins, Hemmings

  • Ones to watch 

Bolton Wanderers

All the talk around Bolton and the University of Bolton Stadium is about Afolayan and it's easy to see why. The 23-year-old is the most fouled player in the league this year and has been a key contributor to Bolton's goals. In his seven appearances in all competitions, he has scored three and assisted one from the left-wing position. 

Against Burton it's likely he will come up against John Brayford and could use his pace and dynamic movement to beat the experienced full-back. 

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It's been a workman's like rise for Afolayan through the years and at 23 is proving himself worthy in League One. He started his professional career off at Solihull Moors before joining West Ham United's U23s and has spent time at both Oldham Athletic and Mansfield Town. 

His first season in Lancashire was last season and scored one and assisted two in 21 games. Already this season he has more goal contributions in a higher league and with Bolton, he has been given more space to shine.  

Burton Albion 

The opposite side of that battle is Brayford and the club captain could be crucial to the result. His battle with Afolayan will be a spectacle but Brayford offers more than just defensive stability. 

He has already scored once this season and scored four in the league last season. His leadership and deep football knowledge are exactly what's needed for Burton who's side lack a real man of responsibility in his absence. Fotmob have given him an average rating of 7.14, whilst WhoScored have gone slightly lower with 7.00.

He averages 1.2 shots per game, 2.7 clearances, 4.2 successful aerial duels and boasts a 63.2% pass success rate. What makes Brayford's contribution this season more important is the fact the club has struggled to score at the other end and being solid at the back has won them most of their games this season.

Brayford's career stats are exceptional. He has made 506 appearances in all competitions for clubs like Derby County, Crewe Alexandra, Cardiff City and Burton. For the latter, he has made 204 and will add a fair few more to that as the season goes on. 

  • Previous meetings

Since 2015 the two sides have met five times and it doesn't make good reading for Bolton, who have won none of those five games. Burton have won four with their most recent outing against each other, in March 2020, ending in a 2-2 draw. 

The last two previous ties have gifted fans goals and the neutral will be hoping for more of the same with the game televised. Before the 2-2 draw, Monday's visitors won 3-4 away in a seven-goal thriller. 

  • How to watch

The game was moved from 3pm on Saturday to Monday night for broadcasting reasons. It will now kick off at 8pm Monday and will be live for fans from the UK to watch on Sky Sports.