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Wiganvs.Crawley

sportsmole.co.uk, 22 August 2024, 23:03
Wigan Athletic will attempt to claim their first points of the season when they welcome Crawley Town to the Brick Community Stadium on Saturday.

Meanwhile, newly-promoted Crawley will be looking to continue their impressive start to the League One campaign after taking maximum points from their first two matches.

Match preview

Wigan have experienced a disappointing start to the campaign, having failed to win any of their opening three competitive matches.

They conceded an 81st-minute goal to lose 1-0 to Charlton on the opening weekend, before their EFL Cup campaign ended with a first-round penalty shootoutout defeat against Barnsley.

Shaun Maloney's side endured another unsuccessful outing last Saturday, slumping to a 2-0 away loss against Reading following goals from Charlie Savage and Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan.

Having lost back-to-back league games, the Latics are currently one of six teams yet to pick up a point in League One this season.

They will be desperate to get on the board this weekend when they face Crawley for the first time since recording a 2-1 victory in an FA Cup tie in November 2017.

Crawley are competing in their first League One campaign in 10 years after they successfully negotiated their way through the League Two playoffs last term.

The Reds have seemingly carried the momentum built from their playoff success into the new season, having begun the campaign with an impressive four-game unbeaten run in all competitions.

Scott Lindsey's side got up and running with a 2-1 win over Blackpool, before Swindon Town were dispatched via a 4-2 scoreline in the first round of the EFL Cup.

After beating Cambridge United 1-0 last weekend, the Reds went on to play out a 2-2 draw in Tuesday's EFL trophy meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion Under 21's before winning the subsequent shootout to clinch a bonus point.

Crawley may now have their eyes on Tuesday's EFL Cup clash against Brighton's senior side, with the second-round tie representing the first competitive meeting between the two clubs since 1992, and they will hope to carry momentum into that contest by claiming their first-ever win over Wigan.

Wigan Athletic League One form:

L

L

Wigan Athletic form (all competitions):

L

L

L

Crawley Town League One form:

W

W

Crawley Town form (all competitions):

W

W

W

W

Team News

Wigan are still unable to call upon the services of Tyrese Francois, Michael Olakigbe and Jonny Smith due to injury.

Maloney could be tempted to make a couple of changes in a bid to find his team's first points of the season, with Calvin Ramsay and Jordan Jones among those who could be considered for a starting spot.

Callum McManaman is likely to provide a useful option off the bench after returning from injury to feature as a substitute last weekend.

As for the visitors, they are expected to be without the injured trio of Harry Forster, Dion Conroy and Gavan Holohan.

Lindsey has confirmed that Ronan Darcy is available for Saturday's away trip despite picking up a knock in Tuesday's EFL Trophy outing.

After making changes to his side in midweek, Lindsey could revert back to the lineup that started the opening two league games of the season.

Wigan Athletic possible starting lineup:

Tickle; Ramsay, Kerr, Aimson, Chambers; Adeeko, Smith; Rankine, Aasgaard, Jones; Hugill

Crawley Town possible starting lineup:

Wollacott; Mullarkey, Mukena, Flint; Malone, Williams, Anderson, Kelly; Darcy, Quitirna, Hepburn-Murphy

We say: Wigan Athletic 1-1 Crawley Town

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