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

Meanwhile, Cardiff are unbeaten in two games since firing Steve Morison and replacing him with Mark Hudson.

Match preview

Wigan go into Saturday's game on the back of a 2-1 defeat at Hull City, where Will Keane's early opener was cancelled out by Dimitrios Pelkas and Oscar Estupinan.

The Latics also lost their most recent home game, going down 1-0 against promotion hopefuls Reading.

However, Wigan sit just two points outside the playoff places and have a game in hand on all the teams above them.

Wigan have taken 10 points from their last 18 available, showing an improved level of consistency that could see them potentially challenging the sides above them.

Meanwhile, Cardiff have had an upturn in form since Mark Hudson took the helm, picking up an impressive draw at home to Burnley last Saturday and following this up with a 1-0 home win against Blackburn Rovers in midweek.

Mark Harris scored a late winner as Cardiff took all three points against a Blackburn side who were in the playoff places at the time.

Cardiff's recent resurgence has seen them climb the table to 15th and, with the nature of the Championship, a few more consecutive wins could easily change their fortunes going forward.

The Bluebirds' most recent away game was back in September when they were beaten 1-0 at Huddersfield Town, and although this was under previous manager Steve Morison it will be interesting to see how Hudson approaches his first away game as manager.

Wigan Athletic Championship form:

D

W

W

L

W

L

Cardiff City Championship form:

L

L

W

L

D

W

Team News

Wigan are expected to be without both Gwion Edwards and Jordan Cousins until the end of the month, but otherwise Leam Richardson has no other injury concerns.

The dilemma for the manager is whether he goes with Charlie Wyke or Josh Magennis in attack, while Ashley Fletcher will also be pushing for a start in one of the forward positions.

Will Keane and Max Power have arguably been Wigan's best performers this season, so expect to see both start again against Cardiff.

For the visitors, Rubin Colwill is still sidelined through injury for the trip to the DW Stadium.

Elsewhere, Jamilu Collins is the only long-term absentee as he continues to recover from a cruciate ligament injury.

It leaves Mark Hudson with plenty of options heading into this game and the interim boss must decide whether he starts Callum Robinson and Mark Harris as a forward pair, or opts for a more conservative approach and plays three in midfield.

Wigan Athletic possible starting lineup:

Amos; Nyambe, Whatmough, Tilt, McClean; Power, Naylor; Broadhead, Keane, Aasgaard; Wyke

Cardiff City possible starting lineup:

Allsop; Romeo, Ng, Kipre, Nkounkou; Ojo, Ralls, Sawyers, O'Dowda; Robinson, Harris

We say: Wigan Athletic 1-1 Cardiff City

A five-point return from three games would represent a good start for Mark Hudson, and because both sides look evenly matched going into Saturday's game a score draw looks to be the most likely result here.

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