Next Up: Exeter City vs Bolton Wanderers
City’s 2025 begun in controversial fashion with a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat to a contentious penalty deep into injury time at promotion-chasing Wycombe, with Gary Caldwell being shown a red card for his protests by a referee called Simpson whose first name was surely that of the father in a certain animated show. Caldwell must pick his troops up off the floor as the busy fixture list continues with the visit of a side that is considered to be underachieving this season and will be out for revenge for a defeat earlier in the season. Millenic Alli missed the Wycombe match with a knee complaint but it’s thought this isn’t serious and it’s hopeful he will return to continue his fine scoring form. Johnly Yfeko came off the bench in a welcome return while Jack Aitchison is thought to be almost ready to come back – unlike Sonny Cox, who will be out for a couple of weeks with a hamstring issue.
After playoff heartache last season, Bolton have again been installed amongst the promotion favourites, but an inconsistent season has seen the spotlight on the future of Ian Evatt. That inconsistency was on show over the Christmas period, with one win, one draw and two defeats including a 2-1 reverse at Mansfield on New Year’s Day. That defeat has left the Trotters in 10th and the vultures continue to circle around Evatt. Dion Charles will be the one to watch although a return of seven goals in the league is perhaps less than he would hope for. One person hoping to feature will be Randell Williams, although City will be hoping it’s Alli rather than Williams displaying their acrobatic goal celebration.
City gained revenge for a 7-0 drubbing last season in the reverse fixture, Doyle and Alli on the scoresheet in a 2-0 win. This fixture last season finished 2-2 – Bolton led at half time through Maghoma, but a pair of stunning strikes from Cox immediately after half time gave City the lead before Toal equalised late on for a 2-2 draw. Bolton hold the edge in league head to heads with eight wins to City’s four, five matches finishing level.
The match for this game will be:-
Referee: Benjamin Speedie
Assistant Referee: Dean Treleaven and Kevin Morris
Fourth Official: Alan Young
Ben Speedie refereed the reverse fixture last season, which Bolton won 7-0. He took charge of two Exeter games the previous season, the 4-0 drubbing Of Forest Green at the New Lawn in September 2022 and a 0-0 with Shrewsbury in February 2023 at St James park. His record so far this season is 66 yellow cards in 21 matches and no red cards.
Interview with Gary Caldwell
Interview with Pay Jones