How Carlisle United will aim to 'exploit' Bolton Wanderers

The Blues take on one of League One’s promotion favourites when they head to the Toughsheet Community Stadium tomorrow.

Ian Evatt’s Wanderers are third and expected to be among the frontrunners for promotion this season.

Simpson is mindful of a strong home side – but believes his own team can pounce if Bolton take United for granted.

Assessing Evatt’s team, Simpson said: “You’ve got Dion Charles who’s been prolific over the last two seasons. The other big striker [Victor Adeboyejo] is a real handful.

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“They’re struggling a little bit with injuries, they’ve got two or three big players missing – Gethin Jones is suspended this weekend – but they’re a footballing team where all of the players are comfortable on the ball.

“The two wing-backs are very positive, the left sided one is actually a winger but he’s playing as a wing-back, and [Josh] Dacres-Cogley I liked at Tranmere.

Dion Charles, with eight goals from 13 games this season, is a key threat for Bolton (Image: PA)

“They’ve got really attack-minded players. On the flip of it, I think we can actually exploit that as well because they are so positive.

“They’re at home. They’ll be thinking it’s just an automatic foregone conclusion that they get three points because they’re playing against little Carlisle.

“So we have to step our game onto them, and be aggressive in the way we press and move the ball quickly and see if we can cause them problems.”

Simpson is weighing up the best system and tactical approach to confront Evatt’s high-fliers.

The Blues boss left out captain Paul Huntington against Peterborough United on Tuesday as he reverted to a back four.

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A system which involved Sean Maguire and Jordan Gibson in wide positions helped Carlisle to a dramatic draw against another strong third-tier side.

Simpson says Huntington responded to being left out with top professionalism.

But he says Tuesday’s shape has certainly given him food for thought.

“It’s given me a positive to take into this weekend,” said Simpson, who appointed ex-Bolton man Sam Lavelle captain in Huntington’s absence.

Will Sam Lavelle again captain United against his former club - or will Paul Huntington come back into the side? (Image: Ben Holmes)

“That selection and shape was picked because of Peterborough’s shape. Bolton are different – they have gone with a back three, two really high pressing, high forward wing-backs, three midfielders, one holding and two ahead, and two strikers.

“It’s a different shape to what Peterborough did. What I have to do as the manager and in discussions with Gavin [Skelton, assistant manager] is work out what’s the best shape for us not only to stop them but also to try and get some joy going forward.”

While it is only United’s second visit to Bolton’s ground – their previous trip came in the Covid lockout season of 2020/21 – Simpson has further memories of taking on the Trotters.

“I think I’ve only played once or twice at the new stadium, but I had lots of games at the old one, particularly I remember playing youth cup games there,” said Simpson.

“I have more memories of the old Burnden Park but that’s probably a reflection of how old I am...

“I think it’s a lovely stadium, a really nice stadium, but my memory of stadiums is tarnished by a bad result so I only want it to be a good memory this weekend.”