Bolton Wanderers v Lincoln City: unbeaten start meets first-points bid | OneFootball

Bolton Wanderers host Lincoln City in the Championship on Saturday, 29 August 2026 in Bolton, with the hosts looking to build on four points from two league games while the visitors chase their first points after back-to-back defeats.

Bolton Wanderers have had the recent edge in this fixture, winning seven of the last 12 meetings with Lincoln City, who have two wins and three draws in that run.

Steven Schumacher's side opened with a 2-1 home win over Preston before a goalless draw at QPR, posting one clean sheet and conceding just once across the two league matches. Lincoln City lost at Middlesbrough and at home to Portsmouth, though they did hit four in an EFL Cup win at Blackpool.

Team news shapes both midfields and back lines. Bolton Wanderers are without Ruben Rodrigues (injured), Luca Stephenson (injured) and suspended midfielder Xavier Simons. Lincoln City miss forward James Collins and defenders Sonny Bradley and Tendayi Darikwa through injury. Darikwa has already supplied one league assist this season.

On the numbers, Bolton Wanderers' 77.38% passing accuracy and 49% possession point to a patient build-up, while Lincoln City's lower share of the ball at 31% and 23 open-play crosses suggest they could lean on direct transitions and wide deliveries. Sam Dalby and Thierry Gale are on the Bolton Wanderers scorers list, with Recco Hackett-Fairchild among Lincoln City's threats.

Bolton Wanderers sit ninth and a win could nudge them into the play-off picture. Lincoln City, 20th and without a league point, could climb away from early trouble with a positive result.