We visit The Latics on Wednesday as the most in form team in the league with 6 wins in our previous 6 games. On the flip side, Wigan currently have the worst form in the league having lost to Stoke, Luton and Reading recently, conceding 14 goals and losing 5 of their last 6 league games. This includes losses in their last 3 home games for good measure.
We haven't played Wigan in the league since Boxing Day last year, a 2-0 win at home. We lost this reverse fixture away at Wigan 1-0 last year, with Livermore being sent off for 2 bookings.
Things aren't at all rosey at Wigan, with questions and concerns around the latest change in ownership of the club. They now have their second different owner in a year since the Whelan family's long-term relationship with the club ended in 2018. Many Wigan fans are calling for manager Paul Cook's head, however it appears that the chairman does not want to be left paying the under-fire manager's contract compensation that would be required if he were to be sacked. Cook was also shown a card in their previous game, meaning that he will be serving a touchline ban against us.
Wigan's poor form has found them slipping into the bottom 3, with only Barnsley (bottom) having a worse goal difference. They have also scored the second fewest goals this season and will find themselves with limited striking options against us as Joe Garner picked up his 5th yellow against Luton last time out.
They haven’t won a game since October against Nottingham Forest, which was also the last time that they managed a clean sheet (one of only 4 clean sheets all season). Since this win, Wigan have lost 5 and drawn 2, conceding at least 2 goals in 6 of those 7 games as well.
To add insult to injury, their top scorer (central defender Cheyenne Dunkley) with 5 goals, was sent off in the final minutes of their last game against Luton and will also miss the match against us. Only 2 other Wigan players have more than 1 league goal: Wales centre forward Kieffer Moore and former Norwich man Anthony Pilkington (both with 2); Kieffer Moore likely to be deployed as a lone striker against us, with long balls fed to him to bring in players around him.
Unsurprisingly with the number of key players missing due to suspension, Wigan have the worst discipline in the league with the highest number of red cards (3), and second highest number of yellows (44). They play aggressively and physically, but are prone to giving away a lot of free kicks around the box with last ditch tackles.
Wigan try to stretch the pitch, utilising players down the flanks, often bypassing a defensively-minded centre midfield with long balls to either the lone striker or wingers. They aren't known for dominating possession and recent games have seen them very prone to giving the ball away under pressure when they are closed down in their own half. Against Brentford in particular, a couple of their goals came from losing the ball in their own half under pressure. They seem to panic in possession, and leave too much space down the wings due to the packed centre midfield and defence.
We are likely to come up against a very packed defence that defend to their own 18 yard box, so we need to be patient and look to exploit our width, getting lots of balls into the box, where they look most vulnerable. Their recent games have seen a lot of goals conceded due to their defenders panicking when the ball is in their own area, failing to clear the ball and diving in.
In their previous match against Luton, their defending was comical at times, especially against a relegation rival. Luton could have easily scored 5 or 6 in the end and made it far much harder work than it should have been. As well as failing to clear the ball away from their own box, they were particularly vulnerable to crosses into the box and set pieces, and have conceded a fair few goals this way recently. Likewise, this is their main threat going forwards, with crosses fired in to their big centre forward to get on the end of.
Wigan switched to a 4-4-2 in their last match against Luton but have favoured a 4-2-3-1 most of the season. They are likely to return to a 4-3-2-1 against us, packing the defence and midfield, with balls played up to the lone striker when they win possession.
They only have 1 recognised centre back available against us (backup CB Kipre) with Mulgrew going off injured in their last game and ever-present top scorer Dunkley missing with suspension. They had to rotate their number 1 keeper against Luton as well after he picked up a training ground injury, giving their number 2 his first start of the season. They play fellow strugglers Huddersfield 3 days after us so will likely have one eye on this fixture and not risk any half fit players against us.
Finally, Wigan are prone to conceding late goals, particularly after 85 minutes. Some of their fans have questioned the fitness levels of the players and this was highlighted with their centre back going off injured with a muscle problem in the late stages of their previous match.
Likely Wigan lineup (4-2-3-1):
GK: Jones - replacement for number 1 keeper Marshall against Luton due to injury sustained in training. Has only played once all season.
RB: Sterling - one of Wigan’s better performers this year, however prone to being caught up the pitch.
CB: Kipre - backup CB who came off the bench for the injured Mulgrew in the last game. Likely to start again with Mulgrew likely not to be risked against us.
CB: Unknown. Will be forced to use the squad due to suspensions and injuries.
LB: Robinson - ever present this season, another one to watch down the wings.
DM: Morsy - captain and blocker, likes to get stuck in but gives away a lot of fouls, booked 8 times so far this season.
DM/CM: Williams - dropped for last game in favour of the more progressive MacLeod but likely to return if they choose to pack the midfield with 2 holding players.
ML/MR: Pilkington - former Norwich man, could be a threat out wide.
AMC: Windass, son of Dean likely to provide their main attacking flair going forward, although dropped to the bench last match.
ML/MR: Lowe - almost ever-present as an attacking midfielder for Wigan.
ST: Moore - Wales striker, scored against Luton last time out and has 2 goals 2 assists. Strong in the air. Garner (other main striker) out suspended.
Another team with defensive troubles, likely to try to play with 10 behind the ball and look to frustrate us. Hopefully we can find the break throughs and come away from the game without any injuries.
Previous 5 gamesLuton 2 - 1 Wigan:
https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/teams/wigan-athletic/11880805/luton-2-1-wiganWigan 1 - 3 Reading:
https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/teams/wigan-athletic/11874613/wigan-1-3-readingMillwall 2 - 2 Wigan:
https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/teams/wigan-athletic/11871232/millwall-2-2-wiganStoke 2 - 1 Wigan:
https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/teams/wigan-athletic/11868344/stoke-2-1-wiganWigan 0 - 3 Brentford:
https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/teams/wigan-athletic/11858258/wigan-0-3-brentford
