Crawley Town welcome Bolton Wanderers in League One on Saturday, and while both sides will be hoping to give their season a much-needed shot in the arm, the hosts will be reeling from the news that manager Scott Lindsey has left the club to join MK Dons.

After Wednesday's shock move that saw Crawley manager Lindsey drop a division to sign for MK Dons, the Red Devils come into Saturday's game managerless and on a run of five games without a win in all competitions, with the most recent result being a 2-1 defeat away at table-toppers Wrexham.

It had been a great start to the season for the newly-promoted Red Devils as they won their first four games in all competitions, and even in their narrow defeats to Wigan Athletic and Wrexham and their home draw against Stockport County, Crawley showed plenty of quality in the formative weeks of the campaign.

Lindsey became manager of Crawley in January 2023 and in his first full season at the club he led them to promotion after a dramatic late playoff push, before beating Crewe Alexandra 2-0 in the League Two playoff final.

Now though, the Red Devils will have to look for a new manager and hope that this shock news does not derail a season which had shown early signs of promise that they would be competitive at this level and avoid the drop.

Crawley are yet to name an interim manager, but there are rumours that former captain Ben Gladwin could take the helm for the visit of Bolton on Saturday; the midfielder finished his career at Crawley and joined the club's coaching team upon his retirement in 2024.

Bolton meanwhile come into Saturday's game on the back of a 5-1 defeat against Arsenal in the EFL Cup on Wednesday evening, when goals from Declan Rice, Ethan Nwaneri, Raheem Sterling and Kai Havertz demonstrated the obvious gulf in quality between the sides, although Aaron Collins's second-half strike to make it 3-1 did give the Gunners a brief scare.

Their previous league game was however a more fruitful experience with their scintillating 5-2 home win over Reading last weekend, when goals from Josh Sheehan, Kyle Dempsey and a Dion Charles hat-trick helped the Trotters to a superb victory which lifted them out of the relegation zone.

It was a much-needed win for Ian Evatt's side, as they had been on a dismal run which had seen them lose back-to-back home league games; the first being 2-0 against Exeter City and the second being a heavy 4-0 defeat against Huddersfield Town.

For a side that would have been hoping to challenge for the League One playoffs this season it will be a huge source of disappointment for Bolton to be 19th in the table, but at this early stage of the season they are only four points away from Lincoln City in sixth.

Crawley's Managerial Uncertainty

The Red Devils' recent form has taken a dip, but the departure of Lindsey adds an extra layer of uncertainty to their already challenging situation. The club's strong start to life in League One has started to unravel after four games without a win. While they were surprise League Two playoff winners last term, the early promise of their campaign has faded somewhat. Crawley's inability to replicate their initial form, coupled with the absence of manager Lindsey, has set the stage for a potentially difficult weekend.

Crawley's lack of a manager has been a talking point in the lead up to the game and could be exploited by Bolton. In a match of this nature, where both sides are looking to turn their fortunes around, Crawley's managerial situation will be a key factor to consider. While Bolton's recent performances have been far from convincing, their manager, Ian Evatt, has instilled a level of consistency and stability that could be crucial in this encounter.

Bolton Aiming for Back-to-Back Wins

After a disappointing start to the campaign, Bolton are looking to build on their 5-2 victory over Reading last weekend. The Trotters' attacking prowess was evident in that match, and they will be hoping to carry that momentum into Saturday's game. The key for Bolton will be to maintain their composure and focus on their own game plan, rather than being distracted by Crawley's turmoil. While the Trotters are in the early stages of their season, their recent victory has instilled a sense of optimism and confidence within the team. The challenge for Evatt's side will be to build on this momentum and ensure that the success of their recent performance was not a one-off occurrence.

The Impact of a New Manager

With Lindsey's departure, Crawley will be looking to their former midfielder, Ben Gladwin, for leadership and guidance. Gladwin has stepped into the role as acting manager for the time being. While Gladwin's appointment might not be a negative factor, the players will be eager to impress and prove themselves to their potential new manager. This could lead to a surge in motivation and energy, making Crawley a tougher opponent than they might have been under Lindsey. It is a situation that Bolton will need to be wary of as it is a common reaction from players to play better for a new manager, particularly in a high-stakes match like this.

Prediction

With little to separate these two sides heading into Saturday's game, the knock-on effect of Crawley losing their manager could just swing this game narrowly in the favour of Bolton, but given the recent defensive frailties of the visitors, it would be a surprise if they kept a clean sheet on the road this weekend. For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.