A look ahead to the Sky Bet League One fixture against Bolton Wanderers at the Weston Homes Stadium on Saturday afternoon (12.30pm).
Peterborough United welcome Bolton Wanderers to the Weston Homes Stadium on Saturday (12.30pm) in the final Sky Bet League One fixture of the regular campaign with Darren Ferguson’s men set to finish fourth unless they overcome the Trotters 4-0.
Equally, Bolton have a challenging set of results to secure automatic promotion – they would need to win the game 4-0 and require Derby County to lose at home to already relegated Carlisle United at a packed Pride Park without scoring a goal.
A much-changed Posh XI lost 2-0 at Cheltenham Town last time out on Tuesday night with goals in the first half from Matty Taylor and Joe Nuttall. Bolton have been in and around the automatic promotion places for a number of months, but they will go into the play-offs, if that is what it is set to be, as the favourites.
TEAM NEWS
Winger Michael Olakigbe has returned to Posh after treatment at his parent club Brentford and could be named in the squad for the clash with the Trotters. Jeando Fuchs is making good progress from his injury and could be fit for the play-off final should Posh reach Wembley.
Will Blackmore is fit again and has featured for the Under 21s in the last week, while Kwame Poku won’t feature against Bolton but should be fit for the play-offs. Posh are set to make changes to the line-up from Tuesday night, but Ferguson confirmed there are one or two knocks still within the camp.
Bolton have striker Dion Charles back available after a spell on the sidelines, but fellow front man Jón Daði Böðvarsson is expected to miss out. Former Posh loanee Nathanael Ogbeta has been an inspired signing and has added to the dimensions of the Bolton attack.
ONE TO WATCH
Aaron Collins
The Whites have paid an undisclosed fee to bring the 26-year-old from Bristol Rovers on a contract running until June, 2027. Collins – last season’s League One player of the year after scoring 16 times for the Pirates – has already made a positive impact.
The Welshman, who also spearheaded Rovers’ promotion success from League Two in 2022, will greatly enhance Wanderers’ current attacking options as the Whites look to continue their promotion challenge and build for the future.
FROM THE MANAGER
“I am really looking forward to the game. I can’t see it finishing 0-0. Both sides like to play the game in the right way. We should have taken all three points at their place earlier in the season, that seems such a long time ago! Bolton have a lot of good players, particularly at the top end of the pitch and they will be a threat. It will be a tough game,” Ferguson said.
TICKET NEWS
Tickets are on sale at www.theposhtickets.com and via the Weston Homes Stadium Ticket Office. Bolton have sold around 2,000 tickets and will occupy the away section of the North Stand and part of the GH Display Stand. Posh fans can purchase tickets in the GH Display Stand, but are advised that the Weston Homes London Road Terrace is sold out.
POSH+
Match passes are available worldwide priced at £10 with audio passes available worldwide priced at £5 with commentary provided by Chris Dowsett and Nilesh Patel.
HEAD TO HEAD
The game finished 1-1 at the Toughsheet Community Stadium earlier in the campaign with Jonson Clarke-Harris on target for Posh.
A FOOT IN BOTH CAMPS
There are a number of players in the Bolton squad that have featured for Posh in the past including skipper Ricardo Almeida Santos. Midfielder Kyle Dempsey and Swansea City loanee Nathanael Ogbeta are also in the Trotters ranks.
Among the other players to have featured for both include Posh promotion winner Mark Beevers, former skipper Peter Kioso, 2021 promotion winner Ethan Hamilton and legendary Posh full-back Mark Little. Marcus Maddison, Kieran Sadlier, Ben Alnwick, Dean Holden, David Norris, Erhan Oztumer and Tony Philliskirk also played for both Posh and Bolton.
KIT COLOURS
Posh will be in their home kit for the game.
MATCH OFFICIAL
Robert Madley is the match referee.