Bolton Wanderers have their latest pre-season test when they take on Carlisle United this weekend.
Ian Evatt's Wanderers head to Cumbria to take on the League Two side at Brunton Park. It will be the sixth game of the club's pre-season preparations prior to the new League One campaign starting at the end of the month.
Wanderers have recorded victories against Longridge Town, Chorley and Watford, as well as a draw versus Stockport County and a narrow defeat to Wigan Athletic. The club's B team played their first fixture last night at the Skuna Stadium against Atherton Collieries.
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The Cumbrians are unbeaten so far in pre-season with wins on the road against Penrith, Kendal Town and Workington. A 1-1 draw against Greenock Morton followed at Brunton Park earlier this week.
Carlisle boss Paul Simpson likes what he has seen so far from his side in pre-season. But he believes upcoming games against Wanderers and Morecambe will present a 'step up' in ability levels for his side.
Speaking to the club website, Simpson said: "We’re getting to a point at the moment where I like our structure, as we had in the first half of the Kendal game.
“We passed it well, we had good shape, and when we keep the ball we’ve got a discipline about our shape. The wing backs have complemented that and we’ve looked a strong side.
“The Workington game was a step up, and with the training game on Tuesday then Bolton on Saturday, and the one up in Largs, it’ll build up again.
“The opposition in those games are a step up in ability levels, and that will test us in a different way. That’s when the shape and discipline of the team will come to the front.”
Carlisle midfielder Jon Mellish believes the upcoming clash against Wanderers in front of their own fans will feel like in earnest that the return to competitive action at the end of this month is getting ever closer.
He said: "It was nice to be back in training again but being out there and playing is much better. It’s good to be around the place and seeing everyone again but you just want to play games.
“We enjoyed the first game against Penrith and each game gets harder. Bolton will be the same again but, like I say, it’s all good preparation.
“I think they’ve gone pretty well. We’ve conceded the one goal, and the games have been getting harder.
"We’ve only been in a couple of weeks and we’re already looking at starting it off against Crawley at the end of the month.
“It’ll be nice to have the home game on Saturday against Bolton and that’ll be when it will feel like we’re getting going properly.
“With the way it went with the gaffer at the end of the season I think it’s shown that we can really push on. We were playing well and we beat some good teams, so if we can get going again like that this year who knows what can happen.”
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