Preview: Stoke City vs. Wigan Athletic - prediction, team news, lineups

The visitors are currently bottom of the table on 34 points, eight points from the safety of 21st position, while Stoke occupy 16th, 10 points above the relegation zone.

Match preview

Stoke have finished 16th, 15th, 14th and 14th in their four seasons in the Championship since being relegated from the Premier League in 2018, and it does appear that they will claim a similar spot this term.

Indeed, the Potters have picked up 52 points from their 42 league games to sit 16th, one point behind 14th-placed Bristol City and 10 clear of Reading in 22nd position.

Stoke are set for another campaign in the second tier of English football, but they will be bidding to end on a positive note, especially considering their results in recent weeks.

Alex Neil's team have won just one of their last six in the league and have picked up just one point from their last three matches, which came away to Birmingham City on April 10.

On Saturday, the Potters suffered a 2-1 home reverse to West Bromwich Albion, with the visitors securing all three points courtesy of a second-half double from Jayson Molumby.

Wigan, meanwhile, suffered a 1-0 defeat to Blackpool in the battle of the bottom two on Saturday, with an early goal from Jerry Yates proving to be the difference between the two sides.

At this stage, Shaun Maloney's side have not been relegated from the Championship, but that could be the case next week if they lose to Stoke and other results go against them.

The Latics secured a return to the second tier by winning League One last term, but they have found it difficult to compete back at this level, picking up just 34 points from 42 matches to sit rock bottom.

Wigan are eight points behind 21st-placed Cardiff, who have a game in hand, so they are going to need a miracle in order to prevent relegation back to the third tier.

The Latics have actually been better away from home this season, picking up 19 points on their travels, but they have only won one of their last five matches against Stoke, suffering four defeats in the process.

Stoke City Championship form:

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Wigan Athletic Championship form:

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Team News

Stoke will be missing midfielder Ben Pearson for Tuesday's contest due to the late red card that he picked up in the defeat to West Brom on Saturday afternoon.

Matija Sarkic remains on the sidelines with a muscular problem, while Ben Wilmot will be absent due to the injury that led to him being stretchered off against the Baggies.

Phil Jagielka will therefore come into the middle of the defence, while Nick Powell might also be handed a start for the visit of the team at the bottom of the division.

As for Wigan, Daniel Sinani, Martin Kelly and Jason Kerr will again be absent due to fitness issues.

Jack Whatmough limped off against Blackpool, meanwhile, and the defender will miss out here, which could see a switch to a back four for Tuesday's contest.

Ashley Fletcher was Whatmough's replacement on Saturday, and the striker could now earn a start here alongside Will Keane and Callum Lang, with Maloney needing to go for broke in search of all three points.

Stoke City possible starting lineup:

Bonham; Hoever, Jagielka, Fox, Sterling; Thompson, Laurent; Brown, Smallbone, Powell; Gayle

Wigan Athletic possible starting lineup:

Amos; Nyambe, Hughes, Rekik, McClean; Power, Naylor, Aasgaard; Keane, Lang, Fletcher

We say: Stoke City 2-1 Wigan Athletic

Wigan desperately need to go for the victory on Tuesday, which should play into Stoke's hands. The home side do not have much to play for at this stage of the campaign but are likely to be too strong for Wigan, who look set to drop back down into League One for the 2023-24 campaign.

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