SM
Bayern vs. Real Madrid: 22 hrs 41 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
WL
Championship
Mar 7, 2015 at 3pm UK
 
LL

0-1

 
FT(HT: 0-0)
Mowatt (51')

Preview: Wigan Athletic vs. Leeds United

:Headline: Preview: Wigan Athletic vs. Leeds United: ID:209440: from db_amp
Sports Mole looks ahead to Saturday's Championship clash between Wigan and Leeds as the Latics look to keep their hopes of a great escape alive.

Wigan Athletic will look to raise hopes of a great escape from the Championship relegation zone even further this weekend when they host Leeds United at the DW Stadium.

Long-serving chairman Dave Whelan stepped down from his role at the club this week having seen his hugely successful tenure come to a controversial end, but the Latics could be on course to provide the perfect parting gift.

Malky Mackay's side seemed to be dead and buried just a week ago, with nine points separating them from safety ahead of their basement battle with Blackpool.

A 3-1 victory at Bloomfield Road kept hopes of survival alive, and fans may be beginning to dream after they made it back-to-back victories in midweek.

Kim Bo-kyung scored the only goal of the game on Tuesday night as the Latics pulled off one of the shocks of the season, beating in-form Norwich City at Carrow Road.

That win lifted Wigan up to 22nd in the table, with the gap to safety now cut to six points with 11 matches of the season remaining.

There is still plenty of work to be done in that time, and ongoing off-field issues at the club are unlikely to help, but the belief is certainly a lot higher now than it was just seven days ago.

In order to maintain their momentum, however, they will have to turn their fortunes around at the DW Stadium. The Latics have the worst home record in the division this season, while they haven't won in front of their own fans since August, taking just six points from a possible 42 since then.

Wigan haven't won three matches in a row for almost a year now, but Mackay has no new injury concerns to worry about and could name an unchanged side.

Leeds also come into this match off the back of a surprise victory over promotion hopefuls, overcoming the division's other East Anglian representatives Ipswich Town 2-1 at Elland Road.

The victory ended a two-match losing streak for Neil Redfearn's side and should be enough to guarantee their place in the division next season, with a comfortable 13 points separating them from this weekend's opponents.

They will now be eager to make a swift return to winning ways on the road, having seen a four-match unbeaten streak come to an end at Brighton & Hove Albion last month.

Their away form has not been too encouraging on the whole this season, however, with only four teams having amassed fewer points on their travels.

Like Wigan, off-field problems continue to rumble on behind the scenes at Leeds, but having spent much of the campaign with the threat of relegation hanging over them, they will hope to play with a little more freedom over the closing months of the season.

Billy Sharp got the winning goal against the Tractor Boys and is expected to be rewarded with another start this weekend despite being withdrawn with a knock on Tuesday. Steve Morison, therefore, is again likely to be on the bench.

Rodolph Austin is still sidelined through injury, meaning that Redfearn could again start with Liam Cooper at left-back and Charlie Taylor further forward.

Wigan:

Recent form: LWLLWW

Possible starting lineup: Carson; Boyce, Maguire, Pearce, Bong; Pennant, Perch, Kim, McClean; Fortune, Clarke

Leeds:

Recent form: WWWLLW

Possible starting lineup: Silvestri; Wootton, Bamba, Bellusci, Cooper; Murphy, Cook, Byram, Mowatt, Taylor; Sharp

Sports Mole says: 1-2


amp_article__209440 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2015-03-06 21:23:46:
html db last update - 2021-02-10 07:14:55 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html
Read more!
Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
2Leeds UnitedLeeds45279980413990
3Ipswich TownIpswich442612688563290
4Southampton452591185622384
5Norwich CityNorwich4521101479631673
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom4520121367472072
7Hull City451913136859970
8Middlesbrough45199176861766
9Coventry CityCoventry4417131468551364
10Preston North EndPreston44189175661-563
11Bristol City451711175347662
12Cardiff CityCardiff45195215165-1462
13Swansea CitySwansea451512185964-557
14Watford451317156058256
15Sunderland45168215252056
16Millwall451511194455-1156
17Queens Park RangersQPR451411204557-1253
18Stoke CityStoke451411204560-1553
19Blackburn RoversBlackburn451311215874-1650
20Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds45148234268-2650
21Plymouth ArgylePlymouth451212215870-1248
22Birmingham CityBirmingham451211224965-1647
23Huddersfield TownHuddersfield45918184875-2745
RRotherham UnitedRotherham45412293287-5524
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .