Ian Evatt is nothing if not confident, some would say delusional. But not me, Bolton have made a decent start to their return to Leauge One and are clearly a decent side but the best team in the league?

Other stats say otherwise like the league table and the amount of games that have a W next to them but no matter. I’m sure Bolton will be up there for the duration this season.

In all seriousness it is going to be a tough game on Saturday, we’ve not had the best of records over there in recent years.

Indeed the last time we won at the Reebok/Macron/Unibol or whatever it’s called these days was close to a decade ago as a Scottish double of James McArthur and Gary Caldwell sealed all three points for Roberto Martinez’s side. That still feels so recent in a lot of ways, yet so much has happened since that visit in the Premier League.

It’s difficult to know what to expect on Saturday, we’ve had a week off due to the international break where as Bolton narrowly lost against Sheffield Wednesday.

Or if you’re Ian Evatt you loaned Wednesday all three points. Bolton have only lost at home once this season with their other four matches bringing two draws and two wins so they’ve a mixed record at home.

With a break for most of the squad with the international break it should be a fresh Latics that take to the pitch on Saturday afternoon.

Leam Richardson has stuck with the same starting eleven for the last few games and there’s no reason to think that won’t be the case on Saturday especially as Will Keane didn’t feature during his time with the Ireland squad and Tendayi Darwika returned early from duty with the Zambian national side.

It should be the biggest away following of the season so far and the third that’s sold out, with over four thousand Wiganer’s making the short journey towards Horwich.

With that kind of backing and the knowledge that a return to the top of the league is a possibility if results go our way I’d expect Leam to have the lads firing on all cylinders. Just don’t tell Ian Evatt that.

Sean Livesey