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Bolton Wanderers v Aston Villa: LIVE

Bolton could be consigned back to League One as promotion-via-the-playoffs chasing Villa come to town

Bolton Wanderers v Ipswich Town - Sky Bet Championship
Relegation is likely to be confirmed this afternoon as Bolton go into a home game against Aston Villa some 10 points from safety
Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Bolton Wanderers welcome Aston Villa to the University of Bolton Stadium this afternoon knowing that relegation could be confirmed even if they manage to claim a victory.

Wanderers go into the game 10 points from safety with four games remaining, so a defeat would confirm a return to League One and a draw all-but confirms it.

There’s a debut today for defender 20-year-old Harry Brockbank, who we expect to play in a holding midfield role with Callum Connolly filling in at right-back despite Pawel Olkowski being available and on the bench.

Phil Parkinson somehow retains Clayton Donaldson up front, with Connor Hall still not even on the bench. Luca Connell and Joe Williams start in midfield, with Gary O’Neil likely to be pushed into a more ‘attacking’ role on the right and the joys of Will Buckley on the left. Jack Hobbs returns to the starting lineup, with Mark Beevers dropping to the bench, while there’s also a return in goal for Ben Alnwick, with Remi Matthews not in the squad. There’s a return on the bench for Yanic Wildschut, alongside Josh Vela and Erhun Oztumer.

Villa a name strong attacking side led by the impressive Tammy Abraham, whose 24 league goals this season is - ridiculously - two less than Bolton’s entire squad have managed. He’s supported from wide by former Ajax winger Anwar El-Ghazi and Albert Adomah, along with Jack Grealish pulling the strings in behind him.

Here are today’s starting lineups. You can follow all the action from the UniBol in the Comments section below.

Bolton Wanderers (4-1-2-2-1): Ben Alnwick; Callum Connolly, David Wheater, Jack Hobbs, Andrew Taylor; Harry Brockbank; Luca Connell, Joe Williams; Gary O’Neil, Will Buckley; Clayton Donaldson

Substitutes: Josh Magennis, Yanic Wildschut, Josh Vela, Erhun Oztumer, Pawel Olkowski, Mark Beevers, Ben Williams

Aston Villa: Jed Steer; Ahmed Elmohamady, Axel Tuanzebe, Tyrone Mings, Neil Taylor; Glenn Whelan, John McGinn; Anwar El-Ghazi, Jack Grealish, Albert Adomah; Tammy Abraham

Substitutes: Matija Sarkic, Mile Jedinak, Birkir Bjarnason, Andre Green, Conor Hourihane, Henri Lansbury, Keinan Davis