Fleetwood Town v Bolton Wanderers: LIVE

Life as a Bolton Wanderers fan has not been fun in 2017. Since defeating Scunthorpe United on New Years' Eve, which secured seven wins in eight games, the Whites have won just two of their 12 matches this year.

This decline in form has left the door open to their challengers, and the surprise beneficiary has been today's hosts Fleetwood Town - who surprisingly occupy the second automatic promotion place behind runaway leaders Sheffield United.

Today marks Bolton's first ever visit to Fleetwood, and only the second ever clash between the two sides - which Bolton won 2-1 at the Macron earlier this season.

The Shrimpers are in incredible form, having not lost in 22 league games since mid-November. They won 2-0 at fellow promotion rivals Scunthorpe United last weekend, won by the same scoreline at Sheffield United in January (where Bolton got absolutely dominated), and their only defeat in the last four months was a 1-0 FA Cup loss at home to Bristol City. They're also unbeaten in their last nine games, of which they've won six and won their last four.

So today is set to be a really tough task for a struggling Wanderers. They'll need to have their eye on the Ball, literally, with Fleetwood top scorer David Ball already having bagged 12 times in the league this season.

The shock Bolton team news is that Darren Pratley, who was out for the season, starts. Whether he'll be wheeling around in a wheelchair, or whether Bolton have hired a professional FIFA player to control him, is anyone's guess. But somehow, he's back in the starting lineup AND been handed the captain's armband straight back, alongside Derik Osede in midfield. Gulp.

Other news is transfer news - we've signed Jem Karacan in an emergency loan from Reading and he starts on the bench today.

Fleetwood look to be lining up in a 4-4-2, with Ball leading the line with Devante Cole, son of former Manchester United man Andy, and former Bolton defender Cian Bolger at centre-half. Pound on him to score, anyone? You can get 15/2.

Here are today's starting lineups. You can keep up with all the action and let us know your thoughts on all things Wanderers related in the Comments section below.

Fleetwood Town (4-4-2):

Alex Cairns; Conor McLaughlin, Ashley Eastham, Cian Bolger, Ben Davies; Amari'i Bell, Kyle Dempsey, Victor Nirennold, Bobby Grant; David Ball, Devante Cole.

Substitutes: Chris Neal, Cameron Brannagan, George Glendon, Godswill Ekpolo, Ashley Hunter, Markus Schwabl, Joe Maguire.

Bolton Wanderers (3-4-1-2):

Ben Alnwick; Dorian Dervite, David Wheater, Mark Beevers; Filipe Morais, Darren Pratley, Derik Osede, Andrew Taylor; Josh Vela; Adam Le Fondre, Gary Madine.

Substitutes: Jem Karacan, Viv Solamon-Otabor, Liam Trotter, James Henry, Max Clayton, Dean Moxey, Mark Howard.