League Two: Swindon v Crewe finishes goalless after near hour-long delay because of thick fog
The hosts move up to 20th while second-placed Crewe close the gap on leaders Walsall to 12 points
The Saddlers thrashed Tranmere 5-1 in the earlier kick-off for a club record eighth-straight win
League One: Mallik Wilks' penalty, Reece James and Sam Nombe deliver a 3-1 win for Rotherham against Bolton
Rotherham 0-0 Bolton
Bolton launch a breakaway and get it quickly up to Joel Randall, who spins on it to retain possession before being clattered into by the retreating Cameron Humphreys.
The Rotherham midfielder goes into the book for that one.
Jamille Matt (15 mins)
Image source, Rex FeaturesThe leaders are ahead...
Tranmere had a momentary flurry but the hosts have a deserved lead.
Luke McGee had made a fine save moments earlier but he could do nothing to prevent Jamille Matt rising above Jordan Turnbull to guide an angled header from Taylor Allen's searching cross back across goal past McGee and into the net.
A silky Matt finish and that's eight for the season for him, and the Saddlers are eyeing a club-record eighth straight win...
Rotherham 0-0 Bolton
Rotherham win a free-kick wide on the right and it comes into Sam Nombe from Alex MacDonald, but Nombe volleys well over first time from about 15 yards out.
Walsall 0-0 Tranmere
Kieron Morris would love a goal today, on his return to the club where he made more than 170 appearances early in his career.
He has a 20-yard blast which cannons back off a Walsall defender while Kristian Dennis has two closer range efforts deflected, the second taking it narrowly over Tommy Simkin's crossbar.
Rotherham 0-0 Bolton
After a flurry of chances in the opening stages, the game has just settled into a slightly more cagey affair.
Bolton are knocking the ball about well but Rotherham are direct and getting it forward quickly when they win it back.
Walsall 0-0 Tranmere
Another Harry Williams long throw into the Rovers area causes a bit of panic but though Jamie Jellis takes the ball down smartly on his chest, his attempt at an acrobatic overhead volley from near the penalty spot is slightly of and drifts off target.
Rotherham 0-0 Bolton
Andy Giddings
Sports Editor, BBC Sheffield
The idea of easing into the game hasn't happened here at the New York Stadium.
This is what you want to see from Rotherham - get into Bolton early. If they can take the lead there's fewer concerns than if we're chasing the game.
Rotherham 0-0 Bolton
Bolton goalkeeper Nathan Baxter broke his nose in the last game of 2024 against Lincoln. He's sporting a baseball cap, such is the intensity of the bright sunshine beaming in towards him.
Worth noting that Wanderers don't have a goalkeeper on the bench today...
Walsall 0-0 Tranmere
A second sight of goal for Liam Gordon as Rovers only half-clear a long throw, this time the ball drops to Gordon on his favoured left-peg but he can only loop a 25-yard half-volley off the turf and into the gloves of Luke McGee.
One way traffic, thus far...
Rotherham 0-0 Bolton
Half of the ground at the New York Stadium is basking in sunshine despite the brisk temperature.
You could be fooled into thinking it was August if you didn't know otherwise.
Mallik Wilks flashes an effort wide for Rotherham. It was never really troubling the keeper.
Walsall 0-0 Tranmere
Connor Barrett races down Walsall's right flank after a good interception by Liam Gordon on the opposite touchline.
He drives towards the area and with plenty of space, opts to have a pop, fizzing a powerful effort over the angle of post and bar.
Worth a dig...
Rotherham 0-0 Bolton
Freezing weather but a white-hot start to this one! Joel Randall, on debut for Bolton, drills an effort towards goal from the edge of the area after it dropped to him from a corner.
George Johnston tries to steer it on target on the way through the crowd of bodies but it goes just wide.
Rotherham 0-0 Bolton
We've had a change of ends for the teams before kick-off at the New York Stadium, where there's still a few patches of frost dotted about on the playing surface, which otherwise looks in good nick.
Rotherham get in almost immediately from the start with Sam Nombe driving into the box and curling one to the far corner but Nathan Baxter gets down well in the Bolton goal to parry it away.
Walsall 0-0 Tranmere
Dazzling sunshine for this clash of the best home team against the worst away team, the highest scorers against the lowest scorers.
On paper this is a home banker, but will the curse of Mat Sadler's Manager of the Month and Nathan Lowe's Player of the Month awards come back to bite the runaway leaders?
Liam Gordon shows some good early intent for the hosts, bouncing a pass off Jamille Matt and then lashing a 20-yard half volley well past Luke McGee's post.
Walsall 0-0 Tranmere
Michael Beardmore
BBC Sport at Poundland Bescot Stadium
Image source, Getty ImagesNot too many players become legends at two different clubs.
But I've just spied this man in the corporate seats behind me - and surely the above tag applies to him.
David Kelly - known as 'Ned' to most - scored 82 goals in 190 Walsall appearances in the 1980s to earn a top-flight move to West Ham.
Towards the end of his career, he spent three years with Tranmere and was part of the side that reached the League Cup final in 2000, scoring Rovers' goal in their loss to Leicester at Wembley.
Legend at both clubs, right, Walsall and Tranmere fans? Hit the thumbs.
#bbcefl
Image source, Rex FeaturesWe have live football, against all the odds... we're under way.
(Thanks to all the ground staff who made this possible!)
#bbcefl
The teams are out at Rotherham and on the Costa del Walsall...
They say less is more... in terms of today's EFL programme, let's hope that's the case...
Walsall v Tranmere (12:30 GMT)
Having begun the fightback with the equaliser off the bench in the win at Notts County in Walsall’s last match on 1 January, Jamille Matt returns to captain the side.
Oisin McEntee and Taylor Allen also come in while Albert Adomah, Charlie Lakin and Evan Weir drop to the bench.
Nathan Lowe was pictured training at parent club Stoke this week but is in the Saddlers XI looking to add to his 14 league goals already this season.
Nigel Adkins makes one change from the Rovers XI which beat Carlisle a week ago with Kristian Dennis replacing leading scorer Omari Patrick, who drops to the bench.
It was Patrick who struck the early winner in the 1-0 win over Walsall in their last meeting back in August, one of his six League Two goals this term.
Rotherham v Bolton (12:30 GMT)
Steve Evans sticks with the same Rotherham line-up that earned a hard-fought point in the goalless draw at Huddersfield last weekend.
Meanwhile, Bolton boss Ian Evatt makes just the one change from their 2-1 win at Exeter.
Midfielder Joel Randall comes straight into the side after signing from Peterborough on Thursday.
He takes the place of Klaidi Lolos, who drops to the bench.
Swindon v Crewe (15:00 GMT)
Swindon Town's League Two game against Crewe Alexandra is set to go ahead at 15:00 GMT following a pitch inspection just now.
"Referee Lee Swaby has reviewed the surface at the County Ground and has confirmed the pitch is playable," Swindon Town said on X.
We're still awaiting confirmation on whether AFC Wimbledon v Cheltenham will be on at Plough Lane later.
"We are making every effort possible to get today’s game on," Wimbledon wrote on X.
"Our team has been working round the clock - including throughout the night moving growlights every hour - to give us the best chance of getting it on."
Rotherham United heaped the pressure on Bolton Wanderers boss Ian Evatt as they coasted to a 3-1 victory at the AESSEAL New York Stadium.
The result led to calls from the away end for Evatt's dismissal.
Bolton's defeat keeps them in tenth in League One, four points off the play-off places, with the Millers moving up to 13th.
Wanderers goalkeeper Nathan Baxter had to pull off an early save after Mallik Wilks sent Sam Nombe clear.
Bolton came close when George Johnston diverted debutant Joel Randall's effort just off target.
Wilks won the Millers a penalty kick when he snuck in behind Ricardo Santos and was hauled down by the defender.
The on-loan forward struck home from the penalty spot himself to give Rotherham a 34th-minute lead.
A referee change delayed the game before the break, with Alan Young replaced by fourth official Paul Cooper.
Rotherham doubled their advantage in the sixth minute of added time at the end of the first half when Reece James lashed the ball into the bottom corner.
Bolton missed a huge chance to get back into the game when Dion Charles prodded wide from close range.
Nombe smashed in the third on 76 minutes after Wilks' shot was palmed into his path before John McAtee netted an 86th-minute consolation after being put in by Charles.
Match report supplied by PA Media
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 23 | 16 | 5 | 2 | 41 | 17 | 24 | 53 |
| |
| 2 | 25 | 15 | 6 | 4 | 50 | 27 | 23 | 51 |
| |
| 3 | 25 | 15 | 6 | 4 | 37 | 18 | 19 | 51 |
| |
| 4 | 24 | 14 | 5 | 5 | 37 | 19 | 18 | 47 |
| |
| 5 | 25 | 12 | 6 | 7 | 39 | 33 | 6 | 42 |
| |
| 6 | 24 | 12 | 5 | 7 | 39 | 33 | 6 | 41 |
| |
| 7 | 25 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 37 | 27 | 10 | 38 |
| |
| 8 | 24 | 11 | 4 | 9 | 32 | 22 | 10 | 37 |
| |
| 9 | 23 | 11 | 4 | 8 | 31 | 26 | 5 | 37 |
| |
| 10 | 24 | 11 | 4 | 9 | 36 | 37 | -1 | 37 |
| |
| 11 | 23 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 27 | 21 | 6 | 34 |
| |
| 12 | 25 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 28 | 30 | -2 | 32 |
| |
| 13 | 24 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 24 | 24 | 0 | 31 |
| |
| 14 | 23 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 18 | 20 | -2 | 31 |
| |
| 15 | 24 | 9 | 4 | 11 | 28 | 31 | -3 | 31 |
| |
| 16 | 24 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 32 | 35 | -3 | 30 |
| |
| 17 | 23 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 21 | 23 | -2 | 27 |
| |
| 18 | 25 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 24 | 39 | -15 | 26 |
| |
| 19 | 24 | 7 | 4 | 13 | 41 | 46 | -5 | 25 |
| |
| 20 | 24 | 7 | 4 | 13 | 22 | 38 | -16 | 25 |
| |
| 21 | 23 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 24 | 43 | -19 | 20 |
| |
| 22 | 24 | 4 | 5 | 15 | 24 | 44 | -20 | 17 |
| |
| 23 | 24 | 4 | 5 | 15 | 22 | 43 | -21 | 17 |
| |
| 24 | 24 | 2 | 8 | 14 | 20 | 38 | -18 | 14 |
|
Manager: Steve Evans
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Ian Evatt
Formation: 3 - 1 - 4 - 2
Manager: Steve Evans
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Ian Evatt
Formation: 3 - 1 - 4 - 2
League One
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Rotherham United have won each of their last three league games against Bolton Wanderers and will be looking to win four in succession for the first time in the EFL.
Bolton Wanderers have failed to win any of their last 17 away league games against Rotherham United (D5 L12), since a 1-0 victory at Millmoor in August 1966.
Rotherham have failed to win either of their last two home league games (D1 L1), last enduring a longer such run in League One in December 2017 (four games).
Bolton are unbeaten across their last four away league games against sides from Yorkshire (W2 D2), last enjoying a longer run between March 2013 and April 2014 (six games).
