BOLTON WANDERERS (AWAY), Macron Stadium, Sky Bet League One, Saturday 24 September 2016 - kick off 3:00pm.
After last Saturday's home encounter with Bristol Rovers, it is back on the road once again for Stuart McCall's men as they make the short trip across the Pennines for a Roses derby match with Bolton Wanderers.
The game will, of course, see City come up against former manager Phil Parkinson for the very first time since his departure from the Northern Commercials Stadium back in June.
McCall's men will be backed by over 4,300 away supporters at Bolton's Macron Stadium. With tickets sales seemingly going well at Bolton's end also, it appears we've all set for a bumper crowd and a special atmosphere come 3:00pm on Saturday.
While City were extending their unbeaten run in Sky Bet League One to eight games with a 1-1 draw against Bristol Rovers last weekend, Parkinson's Bolton suffered their first league defeat of the season thanks to a narrow 1-0 loss at Walsall.
Despite this very minor set-back, Bolton, armed with arguably one of the strongest squads of the division, will fancy their chances of being right up at the very top end of the table come the conclusion of the season next spring.
Bolton currently occupy second spot in the league table, two places and one point ahead of McCall's Bantams.
Having already recruited the likes of Mark Beevers, Chris Taylor and former City striker Jamie Proctor over the summer, Parkinson further strengthened his squad for the campaign ahead with five more signings on transfer deadline day.
Wolves' James Henry, Crystal Palace attacker Keshi Anderson, Newcastle United striker Sammy Ameobi and one-time City loanee Tom Thorpe all arrived on loan, while goalkeeper Ben Alnwick joined on a permanent deal after agreeing his release from previous club Peterborough United.
Bolton also have another former City player in their ranks, Andrew Taylor, who is currently on loan to the Whites from Wigan Athletic. The left back was borrowed by the Bantams from Middlesbrough for a period during the 2005/2006 season.
Previous meetings
You have to go back to Boxing Day 1998 for City's last match at Bolton.
With the Bantams ultimately on their way up into the top flight come the end of the season, City drew 0-0 with their fellow promotion-chasers that day.
Playing in usual central midfield role for City, McCall actually hit the post with a drive from just outside the box for the Bantams during the game.
The game remains City's only previous visit to the Macron Stadium ahead of this Saturday's fixture.
Team News
Bolton Wanderers
The hosts are set to welcome back skipper Jay Spearing from suspension this Saturday after the former Liverpool midfielder sat out the recent loss at Walsall.
Spearing is good friends with City defender Stephen Darby following their time together at Anfield.
Bolton will be without loanee attacker Keshi Anderson, however, following his late dismissal in the Walsall game.
After coming on as a half-time substitute at Walsall, talented playmaker Zach Clough is back in contention for a starting berth following a period on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.
Striker Gary Madine remains ruled out by a groin problem, while fellow attacker Max Clayton is also unavailable to Phil Parkinson for the weekend.
Bradford City
Bantams boss Stuart McCall admitted during his pre-match press duties that two members of his squad would need to be assessed to check their fitness ahead of the Bolton match.
Those two injury doubts aside though, McCall is expected to have a number of pleasing selection dilemmas on his cards for the second week running.
Attackers Haris Vuckic and Marc McNulty will be pushing for starting berths after coming on as second half substitutes against Bristol Rovers last Saturday.
McCall could also turn to the likes of Filipe Morais and Matthew Kilgallon should he wish to make changes in other areas of the pitch.
Defenders Nathan Clarke and Rory McArdle have been training with the squad for a couple of weeks now but McCall may look to give them Wednesday's reserve game at Wrexham before introducing them back into the match-day squad.
Ticket/Travel News
The Club would like to respectfully remind supporters that match tickets for this fixture have now
SOLD OUT.
The Bantams will NOT receive any further allocations of tickets for this fixture. There will be NO option to pay on the day either.
Supporters are advised not to travel to the Macron Stadium without a valid match ticket.
In total, the club have sold approximately 4,300 tickets for the Bolton fixture.
The club would like to make fans aware that replacement bus services will be in place on match-day for those travelling by rail into Bolton Station.
This is due to ongoing and lengthy works to the line by Horwich Parkway Station - the station that usually serves the Macron Stadium.
Given the large number of away supporters expected at the ground on the day, City fans are also requested to please arrive early to allow enough time to enter the stadium without being delayed.
For supporters travelling by car, the directions below can be used:
From the North West
M6 south to junction 30.
Join M61 travel to junction 6 turning left off the slipway you will see the Macron Stadium roughly half a mile in front.
From the North East
M62 runs into the M60 ring road.
Go to junction 15 M60 which is junction 1, M61.
Travel towards PRESTON on the M61 leaving at junction 6.
Turn right off the slip road and the Macron Stadium can be seen roughly half a mile in front.
From the South
M6 North to junction 21a.
Take M62 towards Manchester where it will join the M60 ring road at junction 12, M60.
Follow the signs towards Leeds/Bolton.
Leave the M60 at junction 14 to join the M61 towards PRESTON not Bolton.
Go to junction 6 turning right off the slip road and the Macron Stadium can be seen roughly half a mile in front.
Stadium address
Bolton Wanderers FC
Macron Stadium
Burnden Way
Bolton
BL6 6JW
Last time out
at the Banks's Stadium
Kick Off: 3.00pm
Bolton Wanderers 0
Walsall 1 (McCarthy 25)
Sky Bet League One
Saturday 17 September 2016
Bolton Wanderers (4-4-2): Howard, Buxton (Clough 46), Beevers, Wheater, A Taylor (Moxey 85), Henry, Vela, Trotter, Taylor (Anderson 65), Ameobi, Proctor
Subs not used: Alnwick, Osede Prieto, Wilson, Thorpe
Bolton Wanderers' league form: LDDDW
Match Referee: MARK HEYWOOD
City's match kit colours: BLACK/AMBER/AMBER
Back the Bantams with Sky Bet
City supporters can back Stuart McCall's Bantams with Sky Bet when they play away at Bolton Wanderers this Saturday.
.11/5 to pick up all three points against the Whites at the Macron Stadium. The draw is currently priced at 19/10McCall's men are available with the EFL's title sponsors at
to score the opening goal.9/1, while Haris Vuckic is also currently at 13/2The Bantams can be backed to win 1-0 at
to score at anytime throughout the match.9/4Fellow attacker Marc McNulty is
.www.skybet.com
City fans can place their bets for the Bolton fixture by clicking on the following link -
There are as many as 61 different betting options with Sky Bet for Saturday's game.
Please note, all odds are subject to change.
For those unable to get to Bolton this Saturday, City supporters can follow live updates from the Macron Stadium via the club's official Facebook and Twitter pages.Coverage
Full audio match commentary of the Bolton match can be found via Bantams Player HD. Join Pulse 2's Jason Thornton and Chris Cooper for match action and reaction from the game.
Bantams Player HD is also the place for post-match interviews from McCall and his players, plus extended match highlights over the weekend.
The official website, Twitter and Facebook pages will also have post-match reaction from the City camp at Bolton.