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Preview: Wigan Athletic vs. West Bromwich Albion - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 28 August 2022, 16:20
Wigan Athletic and West Bromwich Albion will both aim to return to winning ways in the Championship on Tuesday, when they square off at the DW Stadium.

The hosts were thrashed by Burnley at the weekend, while their visitors failed to post a second league win of the season away at Huddersfield Town.

Match preview

After winning League One with 92 points last season, Wigan Athletic have certainly experienced a mixed start to life back in the Championship, having begun with draws against Preston North End and Norwich City.

Leam Richardson's side then hosted Bristol City and put a third point on the board, courtesy of Will Keane's equaliser in the second half, before their trip to Coventry City was postponed due to pitch issues.

At the fourth time of asking, the Latics were then able to secure a first league victory of the season away at Birmingham City, and they did so against the odds as Nathan Broadhead hit the only goal of the game in the 82nd minute after Wigan battled with 10 men from the 10th minute following Joe Bennett's red card.

Hoping to build on that victory with another positive result, Richardson's men hosted Burnley on Saturday, but they were comfortably swept aside, despite Keane pulling a goal back from the penalty spot to make it 2-1, as Josh Brownhill hit a brace for the Clarets alongside goals from Jay Rodriguez, Nathan Tella and Samuel Bastien.

While they will have been content with a four-game unbeaten run to start the season, Saturday's defeat certainly makes Wigan's opening run seem less pleasing, and, with just six points from five league outings, the Latics will be desperate to return to winning ways but face another tough test on home turf.

West Bromwich Albion make the trip hoping to put their difficult start to the term behind them, having only managed one league win in six attempts thus far.

They kicked off with creditable 1-1 draws away at Middlesbrough and at home to fellow promotion-hopefuls Watford before suffering a defeat away at Blackburn Rovers.

Pressure continued to mount on manager Steve Bruce after a goalless stalemate with Cardiff City, but the Baggies were then able to put a first league win on the board at home to Hull City, as John Swift, Darnell Furlong, Karlan Grant and Dara O'Shea all got on the scoresheet in a 5-2 thrashing after a Callum Elder own goal had given the lead.

On the back of an EFL Cup defeat to Derby County, Bruce's side returned to Championship action on Saturday with a trip to Huddersfield Town, and, in their bid to make it back-to-back wins, they had a nightmare start as a Tino Anjorin brace gave the hosts a 2-0 lead.

West Brom were, at least, able to salvage a point as Jed Wallace forced a 2-2 draw with a double of his own, and, still left disappointed with a points tally of seven points from six outings, the Baggies will be desperate to kickstart a winning run and a climb up the table with an away victory on Tuesday.

Wigan Athletic Championship form:

Wigan Athletic form (all competitions):

West Bromwich Albion Championship form:

West Bromwich Albion form (all competitions):

Team News

Wigan Athletic remain without first-choice goalkeeper Ben Amos through injury, meaning Jamie Jones will continue to deputise between the sticks, while Joe Bennett will be available for selection in defence after serving his suspension last time out.

Richardson switched to a back three for the contest with Burnley, but, after conceding five goals, Curtis Tilt may drop back out to accommodate another attacking spot.

Will Keane will continue to play a key role in the attacking unit, while Everton loanee Nathan Broadhead will hope to earn a starting berth up front with Callum Lang, Charlie Wyke and Josh Magennis also vying to feature from the outset.

West Brom's only enforced absentee will again be striker Daryl Dike, who remains sidelined with an injury, and Karlan Grant should continue to be deployed over Callum Robinson as a lone striker.

Winger Jed Wallace will come in with renewed confidence after his brace away at Huddersfield, with John Swift and Grady Diangana set to complete the front four.

Okay Yokuslu and Jayson Molumby have been preferred in the engine room in recent weeks, and they should again partner up in front of Dara O'Shea and Semi Ajayi at the heart of the back four.

Wigan Athletic possible starting lineup:

Jones; Darikwa, Whatmough, Kerr, Bennett; Naylor, Power; Lang, Keane, McClean; Broadhead

West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup:

Button; Furlong, Ajayi, O'Shea, Townsend; Yokuslu, Molumby; Wallace, Swift, Diangana; Grant

We say: Wigan Athletic 1-2 West Bromwich Albion

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