“I Want To Progress”: Bolton Wanderers Manager Targets Dual Progress in League and Cup

Bolton Wanderers manager Steve Schumacher is keen for his side to progress on all fronts after recent results across all competitions. 

This comes after the Whites advanced in the FA Cup on Saturday with a hard-fought victory over Huddersfield Town

Three wins on the bounce. ✅
We keep moving. 👍#bwfc pic.twitter.com/YZ2mnsGS8i

— Bolton Wanderers (@OfficialBWFC) November 1, 2025

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Inconsistent Start: Pre-Season Favourites Facing Play-Off Reality

Bolton Wanderers entered the new League One campaign as one of the clear top promotion contenders. After narrowly missing out on the play-offs last year and adding key talents like the attacking prospects Amario Cozier-Duberry and Mason Burstow on loan for the season, pundits and experts across the media tipped them for automatic promotion.

Manager Steven Schumacher’s reputation for dynamic attacking play fuelled the hype after he made a decent start to life in Lancashire.

Yet, the Whites sit 7th in the table after 14 matches. They’ve collected 23 points from 6 wins, 5 draws and 3 losses, with a +4 goal difference, having scored 19 and conceded 15. This does, however, keep them firmly in play-off contention but 5 points behind current leaders Stockport County.

League form has been patchy lately. Over their last 5 outings, Bolton have recorded 3 wins and 2 losses: a 2-0 defeat at Northampton Town and a 3-0 demolition at Burton Albion in October.

That was sandwiched between 3 wins: a 2-1 victory at home to struggling Peterborough United, a 2-1 away win at Huddersfield Town and a 1-0 success over newly relegated Cardiff City.

Defensively resilient, they’ve conceded sparingly, but their attack has fired blanks, netting only 5 goals in those games.

The EFL Cup campaign ended early with a penalty shoot-out loss to Sheffield Wednesday in August, curtailing any deep-run dreams.

Saturday’s Emirates FA Cup first-round clash brought relief. At the University of Bolton Stadium, Bolton edged Huddersfield Town 2-1. New arrival Ibrahim Cissoko opened the scoring, and Richard Taylor’s late header secured progress to round 2. It capped an impressive 3-game winning streak and highlighted squad depth against fellow promotion favourites.

This win injects vital momentum. 7th isn’t dire, the play-offs are only round the corner, and with rivals like Luton Town and Huddersfield Town struggling, consistency is key. A cup run could sharpen focus and boost confidence for the promotion fight.

Speaking after the Huddersfield Town game, Schumacher expressed his desire to progress in all competitions:

We understand the priority is obviously the league this year, we can’t hide from that.”

“But the FA Cup is a competition we’re taking very seriously because I want to progress, and you just never know where it takes you.”

“Having an extra game helps with that. We’ve obviously got the Vertu Trophy games as well and we’ve won that group now because of the result (at Rotherham).”

“So, we’re obviously into the next stage of that, which is good, it gives us more competitive fixtures for lads to play games in.”

“We just want to keep going, keep the momentum going, keep building and getting better as a team, which we think that we’re doing.”

With 32 league games remaining, Bolton’s potential remains untapped. Execution now decides if they climb or stagnate.

Progress On All Fronts: Can The Whites Finally Go Up? 

Bolton Wanderers’ promotion isn’t just a goal—it’s a necessity after 4 straight League One seasons. With average attendances topping 15,000 and a legacy of Premier League triumphs now a distant memory, lingering in the third tier erodes finances, fan passion and squad quality.

Currently 7th on 23 points from 14 games (6 wins, 5 draws, 3 losses, +4 goal difference), they’re play-off safe but trail leaders Stockport County by 5.

A top-2 surge demands ruthlessness, especially with promotion rivals like Cardiff City and Huddersfield Town looking to strengthen.

The Emirates FA Cup provides a timely distraction and potential catalyst. Following their 2-1 first-round triumph over Huddersfield Town on Saturday—thanks to debut goals from Ibrahim Cissoko and Richard Taylor—Bolton will now face League Two’s Swindon Town away in the second round. Swindon sit 2nd in their division, making it a tricky draw, but manager Steven Schumacher must balance rotation to avoid league fatigue, all while dreaming of a lucrative third-round Premier League match-up.

November’s league slate is pivotal. Hosting relegation-threatened Port Vale on 8 November offers a confidence-builder at the Toughsheet Community Stadium. Then comes an away grind at 4th-placed Stevenage, testing defensive resolve.

Without doubt the month’s marquee fixture is a home showdown with 2nd-placed Bradford City in a six-pointer that could swing the promotion race.

Sustained scoring—with 19 goals on the tally—and solidity will decide it. Get the foundations right, and Bolton’s Championship return beckons. Falter, and it’s back to the same old story for Bolton: so close, yet so far.