Is playing in the Carabao Cup first, good for Bolton Wanderers? Opinion
05.08.26, 16:00 Updated 05.08.26, 16:00 4 Minute Read
Matt Bottomley
Bolton Wanderers begin their 2026/27 campaign this weekend with a trip to Hillsborough and Sheffield Wednesday. In a change to the EFL calendar, the Whites will play their first competitive game of the season in the Carabao Cup, rather than kicking-off in the league.
What is normally a fan-fared build up to the first game has instead become rather muted in the run up. Instead, that will come a week later, as Wanderers play Preston North End in their Championship opener, but could the low-key cup tie coming first, actually work in Bolton's favour?
For preparation, the length of pre-season has been far from ideal for anyone this summer. The World Cup has meant that players have only been with their clubs for around five weeks, cramming in conditioning, training and pre-season games. For some, it can be rinse and repeat, but for Bolton it has made the challenge of getting a team ready for a step up, all that bit more difficult.
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Matt Bottomley A lifelong Bolton Wanderers fan, this club is the reason I began my journalism career. Since sitting in the stands as a kid over 20 years ago, I have gone on to work for the likes of the BBC and The Telegraph before everything led me back to here, to the football club I love.