SETTING THE SCENE Bolton Wanderers travel to Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday in what will be an emotional game for all involved with the club following the passing of long-standing chairman Phil Gartside.
The Whites make the trip to the AMEX Stadium looking to extend their three-game unbeaten run, having seen last weekend’s dramatic victory over Rotherham United move them off the foot of the Sky Bet Championship table.
Although yet to win on their travels so far this season, Bolton did clinch an impressive draw away at Wolverhampton Wanderers in their last match on the road, recovering a two-goal deficit inside the final ten minutes.
There was also a dramatic finish when the Trotters hosted Brighton back in September, again coming after falling two goals behind with Gary Madine scored a last-minute equaliser.
The Seagulls were the league leaders at the time, in the midst of an impressive 22-game unbeaten run.
And while an eight-match winless run might have seen them recently slide to fourth place, Brighton have recovered their previous form in recent weeks as they come into Saturday’s match off the back of three successive wins.
Their current mini-run includes back-to-back home victories over Huddersfield Town and Brentford, while they boast the superior record in this fixture having only ever lost once at home to Wanderers, with that reversal coming back in October 1977.
However, with both sides having plenty to fight for at either end of the table, Saturday’s meeting is sure to be an intriguing encounter on the south coast.
TEAM NEWS Zach Clough and Neil Danns could both return for Wanderers’ trip to Brighton on Saturday, however, Liam Trotter has been ruled out after suffering a hamstring injury against Rotherham.
Elsewhere, Gary Madine (back) remains doubtful, while Dean Moxey (dead leg) will be assessed.
Max Clayton and David Wheater (both hamstring) remain long-term absentees.
LAST TIME OUT Kaiyne Woolery came off the bench to score a last-minute winner in Wanderers’ last outing, as the forward’s maiden strike for the club clinched a 2-1 victory over Rotherham United.
LAST BRIGHTON XI (v Brentford, W3-0) Stockdale, Bruno, Dunk, Goldson, Ridgewell, Stephens, Kayal (Sidwell 78), Knockaert, Hemed (Crofts 69), Murphy, Zamora (Wilson 45).
ONE TO WATCH Having seen his goals help Brighton win back-to-back promotions in the early-noughties, Seagulls legend Bobby Zamora returned to the club last summer.
A former England international, the forward originally joined Brighton from Bristol Rovers in 2000, spending three years with the club before enjoying further successful stints with Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United, Fulham and Queens Park Rangers.
Despite his game-time being managed carefully since his move to the AMEX Stadium, restricting him to just eight starts, Zamora is still Brighton’s joint-leading scorer so far this season with seven goals.
Ref watch: Rob Lewis to run the rule over Brighton trip
Rob Lewis will oversee Bolton Wanderers' trip to Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
The match at the AMEX Stadium will mark the first time the Shrewsbury-based official has reffed the Whites, despite having taken charge of his first Football League fixture during the 2005/06 season.
His first second tier fixture came the following season, while Mr Lewis has run the rule over 19 games so far this season, dishing out 61 yellow cards and three red cards.
Ryan T Atkin and Barry Holderness will run the line while Lee Swabey is the fourth official.
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