Bolton Wanderers' Kyle Dempsey missed the loss against Forest Green Rovers due to a hip problem, while Amadou Bakayoko was given a break following his international duty for Sierra Leone.
Both players were absent from the matchday squad for the 1-0 loss at the New Lawn. Connor Wickham scored what proved to be the winning goal in the first half.
Despite chances for Dion Charles, Jon Dadi Bodvarsson and Kieran Saldier after the break, the Whites were unable to draw level and slipped to defeat. However, Wanderers remain in the top six despite back to back losses in League One.
READ MORE: Why George Johnston was substituted at half-time of Bolton's loss to Forest Green
Dempsey started the midweek loss to Cheltenham Town but was not involved against Forest Green owing to a hip issue picked up against the Robins, Ian Evatt confirmed after the loss to the Green Devils. Bakayoko meanwhile was given a break following his recent efforts and travels for Sierra Leone.
Evatt said: “Kyle hurt his hip on Tuesday in the game so he was out. Amadou just needs a break really. He’s physically tired from his travels to Sierra Leone and Africa, so we’ve got a strong squad and we can utilise it.
“I don’t think there’s any need for knee-jerk reactions here. We’ve lost two games 1-0, you are allowed to lose games. Today was slightly different to Tuesday, I was upset with the manner of Tuesday, I’m upset with the first half today but second half, I think everybody here knows we didn’t deserve to lose the game but sometimes football has a nasty habit of biting you on the backside.”
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