Bolton vs Aston Villa U21 Prediction: Trotters to earn another big win

Bolton Wanderers are back in EFL Trophy action on Tuesday night as they host Aston Villa U21 at the Toughsheet Community Stadium (19:45). Now Aston Villa’s first team have already beaten Young Boys in this season’s Champions League, but now it is their own young boys who will target cup success. 

Meanwhile, Bolton boss Ian Evatt was shown a straight red card after the final whistle at the weekend having gone head-to-head with Shrewsbury’s Morgan Feeney after the 2-2 draw. He will serve a touchline ban for this game, and below you can find my Bolton vs Aston Villa U21 prediction. 

Team News

Bolton are likely to make several changes for this game, given the defeated play-off finalists from last season have their eyes firmly fixed on automatic promotion this term. Expect the likes of John McAtee and Klaidi Lolos to be given starts, while up front Aaron Collins could come into the XI for one of Dion Charles or Victor Adeboyejo. 

Aston Villa U21 have lost their last two games, but a familiar face could start at the back as Tyrone Mings continues his recovery. He made his first start in over 12 months at the weekend after suffering that terrible knee injury and the former Villa captain may be tested again in midweek. Midfielder Boubacar Kamara is also on his way back from injury and played in the recent defeat to Newcastle U21. 

Bolton vs Aston Villa U21 Odds

Bolton are priced at 2/5 to win this game, with Aston Villa U21 available at 5/1 to take maximum points. A draw can be backed at 5/2, over 2.5 goals is 2/5 and BTTS is 8/15. 

Bolton to win and BTTS @ 6/4

There’s just no comparison between a top League 1 side and an academy outfit. Every year in this competition the U21 teams show promise before being eliminated before things get serious and it shouldn’t be any different here. Bolton may not have had the perfect start to the season but they have far more quality than Villa’s youngsters, and should win this game comfortably. 

However, with potential rotation from Evatt, and the fact that both of these sides have had loads of goals in their game of late, I think we can also add BTTS to boost our odds. Both teams have found the net in four of the last five Bolton matches in all competitions, while BTTS has come in during the last eight Villa U21 matches. 

They also beat Fleetwood 3-2 in the first group stage game, and I think we will see another entertaining encounter on Tuesday night.

Bolton to win both halves @ 21/10

Bolton may, for now, only be 13th in the League 1 table, but in my  mind they will finish the season in the play-offs at a minimum. Evatt may be slightly hot-headed as we have seen this week, but he can get this team playing some good football and importantly, scoring plenty of goals. 

They’ve hit a decent run of form now, picking up 10 points from their last four league games, while they also beat Barrow 3-2 in their opening EFL Trophy fixture. That’s enough for me to side with the home side, and I believe they will be far too strong for Aston Villa U21, winning both halves.

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