In a clash that will impact the race for promotion and battle for survival in League One, hosts Wigan Athletic will play eighth-placed Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday at the Brick Community Stadium.
Wigan are in 18th place with 44 points following their 1-1 draw with Barnsley on Saturday and are eight points and three places from the relegation zone, while Bolton have 60 points and lost 2-1 against Blackpool on March 29.
Match preview
© Imago
The hosts created numerous opportunities against Barnsley – four big chances compared to Barnsley’s one – and they will be disappointed to have conceded at all given they only faced two shots from inside the box.
Wigan have struggled to convert their shots into goals, with the club only scoring six times in their last seven, failing to find the back of the net in two of those fixtures.
Boss Ryan Lowe‘s side do boast the advantage of having a game in hand on 21st-placed Burton Albion, but with games against the likes of Wrexham still to come, the head coach cannot take survival for granted.
The Latics have only won two of their last 12 games – losing five times – and have only scored three goals in their past four matches.
Wigan’s home form has been positive given they have triumphed in two of their four most recent outings while succumbing to defeat just once in that period.
© Imago
Opponents Bolton dominated possession against Blackpool, but despite enjoying 71% of the ball they only created one big chance and conceded two of the three shots they faced from inside the penalty area.
To manager Steven Schumacher‘s credit, his team’s record of 60 goals scored in the third tier is the third best return in the division, and his players have found the back of the net nine times in their last five outings.
The Trotters were beaten 2-0 by Wigan in the reverse fixture on December 14, and they are in fact winless against their hosts in their last nine meetings, losing either in regular time or in a penalty shootout on six occasions.
Schumacher’s team come into Tuesday’s clash two points and two places from the league’s fourth and final promotion playoff spot but have lost three consecutive matches by a cumulative score of 6-3, though they did win four of their prior five games.
Bolton have also been defeated in their past two away fixtures, but they triumphed in two and drew one of their previous three on the road.
Team News
© Imago
Wigan fielded a back three of James Carragher, Jason Kerr and Will Aimson against Barnsley, and they may be trusted to protect goalkeeper Sam Tickle on Tuesday.
Scott Smith and Oliver Norburn have frequently been used in midfield this season, and they are likely to partner each other again.
In the forward line, Chris Sze and Dale Taylor may be supported by attacking midfielder Ronan Darcy.
As for Bolton, they will be unable to select midfielder Aaron Morley, who was sent off against Blackpool.
In Morley’s absence, perhaps Josh Sheehan will come into the XI to play alongside George Thomason in a double pivot.
Centre-backs William Forrester, Chris Forino and George Johnston are candidates to play behind the midfield duo, while attackers Szabolcs Schon, Aaron Collins and John McAtee may be stationed ahead of them.
Wigan Athletic possible starting lineup:
Tickle; Carragher, Kerr, Aimson; Dale, Smith, Norburn, Smith; Darcy; Sze, Taylor
Bolton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Baxter; Forrester, Forino, Johnston; Dacres-Cogley, Sheehan, Thomason, Osei-Tutu; Schon, Collins, McAtee
We say: Wigan Athletic 2-1 Bolton Wanderers
Wigan’s impressive record against Bolton should make them clear favourites to achieve victory on Tuesday.
While the hosts have struggled for wins in recent weeks, Bolton’s form is poor and they could find it difficult to get back into the game should they concede first.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
