Sports Mole previews Saturday’s League One clash between Wigan Athletic and Wrexham, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Fighting for their automatic promotion spot in League One, Wrexham will travel to face struggling Wigan Athletic at the Brick Community Stadium on Saturday.
The Latics will be hoping to end their five-game winless run this weekend, while the Red Dragons will be looking to make it five victories from their last six.
Match preview
© Imago
Ryan Lowe‘s Wigan have endured a tough few months in the lower reaches of the third tier and have won just two of their last 15 matches, including none of their five games since March 8.
Most recently, the Latics drew 1-1 with Exeter City on Tuesday, and the boss will be disappointed with the way that his team surrendered the lead that Dale Taylor earned them from the penalty spot after less than 20 minutes.
That stalemate left Lowe’s men 18th in the table with 46 points, and having dropped 12 points since their victory over Cambridge United last month, they are now only seven points ahead of 21st-placed Burton Albion in the relegation zone.
In desperate need of points to avoid slipping into danger, the hosts will be thankful that they are playing in front of their own crowd this weekend considering that they have won two of their last five at the Brick Community Stadium, a significantly better record than the zero wins they have managed on the road since mid-January.
If Wigan can take an unlikely three points on Saturday, then they could find themselves as high as 15th should results elsewhere prove favourable, though defeat would give Northampton Town the chance to overtake the Latics, who may only be four points above the drop by the end of the matchday.
© Imago
Meanwhile, Phil Parkinson‘s promotion-chasing Wrexham stumbled at the start of the year when they recorded three losses, one draw and just one win in January, though they have only lost twice since, with seven wins, two draws and one defeat in their 10 most recent league games.
Last Sunday, the Red Dragons played out a comfortable triumph over Burton, but they did have to wait until 20 minutes from time to open the scoring against a resilient 10-man Brewers side.
Three more points for Parkinson’s team has kept them second, four points ahead of third-placed Wycombe Wanderers and a strong seven in front of fourth-placed Stockport County.
Additionally, given that the visitors have lost just one of their last nine away from the Racecourse Ground, including seven wins and one draw – a match against Cambridge that featured a wrongly awarded penalty – since the start of February, they will be confident of adding to their tally on Saturday.
A 25th win of the season would take Wrexham to 84 points with only four games left to play, and they will be dreaming of being seven clear of the Chairboys before hosting Bristol Rovers next Friday.
Wigan Athletic League One form:
Wrexham League One form:
Team News
© Imago
Going up against one of the strongest sides in the division, Wigan will need their back three of James Carragher, Jason Kerr and Will Aimson to remain strong if they are to take anything from this weekend’s clash.
Just ahead of the trio should be a double pivot of Jensen Weir and Scott Smith, who will be aiming to create a platform for attacking midfielder Harry McHugh to support strikers Maleace Asamoah and Dale Taylor up front.
Wrexham could be without in-form forward Jay Rodriguez this weekend after he was withdrawn with an injury in the first half of their match against Burton.
In his absence, expect Steven Fletcher – who scored in that game – to start alongside Sam Smith up top, while wing-backs Ryan Longman and James McClean provide width.
Wigan Athletic possible starting lineup:
Tickle; Carragher, Kerr, Aimson; Dale, Weir, Smith, Robinson; McHugh; Asamoah, Taylor
Wrexham possible starting lineup:
Okonkwo; Cleworth, O’Connell, Brunt; Longman, Dobson, James, Rathbone, McClean; Fletcher; Smith
We say: Wigan Athletic 1-2 Wrexham
Wigan will be feeling the pressure of slipping down the table this weekend, so expect to see some fight in their performance.
That being said, Wrexham have been in excellent form in recent months, and considering the strength of their away record, they should take all three points on Saturday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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