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

Six defeats in the last seven have seen the Latics slide into the relegation places with the World Cup break approaching, whereas Blackpool are hovering just above the bottom three before what is a significant game in the lower reaches of the second tier.

Match preview

After managing to collect just one point in the last seven Championship outings, the Wigan hierarchy decided on Thursday morning that a change in leadership was needed to help the club maintain their Championship status after pipping Rotherham United to the League One title last season.

During his 18 months in charge of the Latics, Richardson steered the financially-troubled club to third-tier safety and then promotion back to the Championship the following season, but like many clubs Wigan have found it difficult making the step up to this level.

Many supporters are questioning the speed of such a decision from the club's owners considering the 42-year-old's reputation in Wigan but also the lack of investment in the summer, which has resulted in the current playing squad being very similar to the one that operated in League One last year.

Assistant manager Rob Kelly will take interim charge of Wigan for the visit of the Seasiders on Saturday, with the Lancashire-based club sitting 23rd in the Championship with 20 points from as many fixtures, two points off safety.

Wigan have struggled massively in collecting points in front of their own supporters this season - a common characteristic of relegated sides in the past - having managed to pick up just six points in 10 matches at the DW Stadium, four fewer than any other team on home turf.

With two wins at the end of October including a derby-day victory over bitter rivals Preston North End, Blackpool looked set to finish off this part of the Championship season before the World Cup break in good form.

However, the Seasiders have been unable to earn any points from their three matches in November so far and have also failed to score in that time, a worrying turn of results for head coach Michael Appleton.

Michael Carrick's rejuvenated Middlesbrough side convincingly beat Blackpool at Bloomfield Road last time out in a game where the hosts only managed a single shot on target, a metric that will surely have to improve at Wigan if they are to get three points on their final away venture before the season pauses.

Currently 21st in the Championship standings after 20 matches, the Tangerines are finding their second season at this level after a six-year absence difficult and may have to scrap with some big clubs such as West Bromwich Albion and Huddersfield Town in order to move away from the bottom three.

Blackpool have collected more points away from home this season than at Bloomfield Road and are not strangers to big results on the road having narrowly defeated Queens Park Rangers in West London towards the start of this campaign.

Wigan Athletic Championship form:

L

L

L

L

D

L

Blackpool Championship form:

L

W

W

L

L

L

Team News

Wigan will remain without the services of their first-choice goalkeeper when Blackpool come to town on Saturday, with Ben Amos out until after the World Cup with a broken rib, meaning 33-year-old Jamie Jones will start a fifth consecutive game between the sticks.

Temporary boss Kelly will also be unable to call on ex-Blackburn Rovers man Ryan Nyambe, with the Namibia international suffering from a knee injury that has seen him sidelined since Wigan's defeat at Hull City last month.

Blackpool's injury crisis continues as they travel to face the Latics on Saturday, with nine first-team players out with various issues including Jake Beesley and Jordan Gabriel.

Appleton will be able to welcome back Callum Connolly to the matchday squad however after he served his one-match suspension for picking up his fifth booking of the season in the loss to Luton Town.

Central defender James Husband is a doubt for Saturday's trip to the DW Stadium after limping off in the second half against Middlesbrough with a hamstring issue, an injury Appleton may not want to aggravate in his side's last fixture before a month-long break.

Wigan Athletic possible starting lineup:

Jones; Edmonds-Green, Whatmough, Tilt; Darikwa, Power, Cousins, McClean; Lang, Wyke, Keane

Blackpool possible starting lineup:

Maxwell; Ward, Ekpiteta, Williams, Thompson; Yates, Dougall, Patino; Carey, Lavery, Hamilton

We say: Wigan Athletic 1-1 Blackpool

With both sides in poor form heading into this clash at the DW Stadium, it is difficult to know who will take the initiative and earn a vital three points at the bottom of the Championship.

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