Bolton vs Shrewsbury Prediction: Hosts to secure vital victory in hunt for automatics

A 1-1 draw with League 1 leaders Portsmouth on Saturday, coupled with Derby County's 3-0 win over Leyton Orient, has seen Bolton Wanderers fall four points behind the Rams in the race for the second automatic promotion spot. The Trotters can cut the deficit to a single point, though, if they triumph in their game in hand on Tuesday night (KO, 19:45) against Shrewsbury Town.

The Shrews have an objective of their own, however, as three points for them at the Toughsheet Community Stadium could help secure their third-tier status for another season. Read on for our Bolton vs Shrewsbury prediction and all the latest team news and match odds.

Automatic promotion is now out of Bolton's hands but by no means are they out of the running - victory on Tuesday would pile the pressure on Derby, who contrived to throw away their promotion chances in their final two matches of last season.

Their visitors to the Toughsheet Community Stadium, meanwhile, are six points clear of 21st-placed Port Vale, who occupy the fourth and final relegation spot. If the Valiants and Cheltenham Town fail to win their own games on the same night, Shrewsbury would confirm survival with all three points at Bolton.

Team News

Australia international Gethin Jones made his return from injury on Saturday and looks set to make it back-to-back starts on Tuesday while Dion Charles, who made his comeback as a substitute against Pompey, might have to settle for a place on the Bolton bench again.

It remains to be seen whether fellow forward Dan Nlundulu is fit enough to make the matchday squad for the first time since December 5.

Shrewsbury defender Tom Flanagan will miss the remainder of the season as he serves a three-match ban for the red card he received in Saturday's 2-0 home defeat to Wycombe Wanderers.

Shrews boss Paul Hurst made one change for that game with Tom Bloxham replacing Elliott Bennett, who had started their previous defeat at Portsmouth. The veteran midfielder could return on Tuesday after getting a full rest on the weekend.

Match Odds

Bolton are 1/3 to do the double over Shrewsbury after beating them 2-0 in November, giving them an implied win probability of 75%, while Salop's chances are rated at 10.5% with odds of 17/2. The draw, meanwhile, can be backed at 4/1.

Both teams to score is available at 11/10 and it's 8/11 for over 2.5 goals.

Bolton to win & over 2.5 goals @ EVS

The hosts simply have to win to crank up the pressure on Derby and give themselves a realistic shot at the automatics. Ian Evatt's side still have to play Peterborough United at London Road, so a home game against a relegation-threatened outfit represents must-win territory.

Bolton's home form should give them encouragement as they have won 14 out of 21 league games at the Toughsheet Community Stadium, going unbeaten in their last 10 there - seven of which they have taken maximum points in.

Shrewsbury's last match at a promotion-chasing team saw them lose 3-1 against Portsmouth and in 21 away outings in League 1, they have suffered 12 defeats.

Bolton scored two without reply in the last head-to-head between these two, but their home contests this season average 3.5 goals per game - the highest in the division - and I can see at least three goals scored on Tuesday.

Aaron Collins to score anytime @ 8/5

It was a slow start in front of goal for the 26-year-old, who scored just once in his first 11 appearances for Bolton after joining from Bristol Rovers in January. However, Aaron Collins now has six strikes in his last six games, and five in his last three.

The Welsh forward fired a hat-trick against Reading at the start of April and followed it up with a goal apiece against his old club, Rovers, and Portsmouth.

He's now bagged in his last four matches at the Toughsheet Community Stadium and Tuesday represents a terrific opportunity to make it five against a side that has shipped five across its last two.

Check out the rest of our Football Betting Tips here.