Preview: Rotherham United v Bolton Wanderers

It's a return to the Sky Bet Championship for Bolton Wanderers on a rainy Tuesday in January.  Or maybe it won't be rainy.  But it is likely to be cold.  Anyway, it lacks the glamour of an FA Cup tie in Liverpool.  That doesn't matter though.  Neil Lennon wants to win every match, and he has instilled that mentality in his players.

But there will be challenges.  The latest challenge is the fitness of striker Emile Heskey.  The former Liverpool striker played a big role in Saturday's result, and many found it surprising when he was subbed off.  I had come to the conclusion that the 36-year-old just ran himself into the ground.  Unfortunately, it turned out that he had a hamstring injury, one that will keep him out of action for a couple of weeks.  That leaves an already weakened strike force very short ton bodies for the trip to Rotherham United Tuesday evening.  We know Max Clayton is out for the season.  Craig Davies has re-injured his own hamstring and will be out for a bit longer.  Joe Mason has gone back to Cardiff City.  Jermaine Beckford has gone out on Loan.  Zach Clough is recovering from another hamstring injury, and he is more of a winger anyway.  Reinforcements are on the way in the form of Adam Le Fondre, but he won't be eligible for this match.  We are basically down to Eidur Gudjohnsen and Conor Wilkinson.

There is one good bit of fortune for Bolton Wanderers.  They are playing Rotherham United.  Rotherham sit 21st in the table, with 26 points from 26 matches, three points above the relegation zone.  Their defending has not been that bad, a they have conceded 33 goals, the same number as Bolton.  However, they have only scored 21 times, worst in the division.  They have lost their last 3 matches, including in the third round of the FA Cup, allowing eight goals and scoring only one in the process.

On thing I am interested in seeing is if Neil Lennon will rotate his squad.  Even over the Christmas period Wanderers' schedule wasn't particularly rough, and Lennon has been reluctant to change a winning team.  That said, the players really worked themselves to the bone at Anfield, and you could see one or two begin to drag if they have to play another 90 minutes.

It should be an exciting match, I am looking forward to it.