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Bolton Wanderers, the champions of last year’s EFL Trophy, are set to square off against Salford City, a team from League Two, in their Northern Section Group E match. This highly-anticipated clash will take place on Tuesday, 5th September. The last time these two sides met, Bolton had the upper hand. Will history repeat itself or will Salford flip the script?

Analysis: Bolton Wanderers: While their days of European football prominence might be behind them, Bolton made headlines last year by clinching the EFL Trophy with an emphatic 4-0 win over Plymouth Argyle. Their celebration was, however, short-lived as they missed out on a Championship promotion, following a 2-1 aggregate loss to Barnsley in the semi-finals. This season has shown signs of promise, with notable victories against Lincoln City, Cheltenham Town, and Fleetwood Town. However, a crushing defeat at home to Wigan Athletic and an EFL Cup exit at the hands of Middlesbrough were stark reminders of the challenges ahead. On a brighter note, they recently overcame Derby County 2-1, despite a shaky start.

Bolton’s line-up might face challenges as star players Charles and Sheehan are on international duty. The absence of these pivotal players might offer chances for Nlundulu, Bodvarsson, and veteran Jerome to shine.

Salford City: Salford has their own success story in the EFL Trophy, having clinched the title in the 2019-20 edition. More recently, they showcased their prowess by beating Preston and Leeds in the EFL Cup. Yet, their league performance has been less than stellar, securing only a single win in their last five games. Their 1-0 loss to Morecambe, coupled with Lund’s red card, adds more concerns to their current form.

For this match, Salford will miss the services of veteran Mariappa, who’s on international duty, and Lund due to suspension. But the spotlight might shine on Vassell, who’s likely to step up in the defence.

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Head-to-Head Stats: Bolton seems to have an edge based on recent encounters. Salford City hasn’t won any of their last four games against Bolton. Additionally, Bolton has a commendable record of converting a 1-0 lead at home to victories 89% of the time. In contrast, Salford struggles when they’re a goal down away, managing to turn things around in only 26% of those matches. Bolton’s recent form also looks better, with fewer conceded goals.

Prediction: Based on the current form, head-to-head stats, and given absences in both teams, Bolton appears to have a slight advantage. They have the home ground factor in their favour and a record of dominance against Salford. Goal.mu predicts: Bolton Wanderers 2-0 Salford City. Their stronger recent form, coupled with Salford’s struggles in League Two, points towards a Bolton win.

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