Malky Mackay will resume his search for a maiden win as Wigan Athletic manager when he faces his first away game as boss against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

The Latics fought to a 1-1 draw against high-flying Middlesbrough in his first match in the dugout, with the off-field controversies surrounding his appointment failing to dampen the supporters' enthusiasm towards their new boss.

Matters off the pitch continue to make the headlines as far as Wigan are concerned, however, with chairman Dave Whelan this week being charged by the FA for anti-Semitic comments.

In truth, things aren't much better on the field. Wigan are languishing just one place off the bottom of the table despite going into the season among the favourites to gain promotion to the Premier League.

It is now four games without a win for the Latics, while they have won just once since August, so Mackay's first victory at the club cannot come soon enough.

Wigan have only won once away from home all season, but have beaten Sheffield Wednesday three times in a row and have never conceded a goal against them in the league.

Scoring goals has been the issue for the Owls this season, with just 12 from their 18 games so far - the joint lowest tally in the Football League alongside Blackpool.

Just one of those goals have come in their last seven games, while they are now without a win in their last 11 matches in all competitions.

On the other hand, only Middlesbrough can better Wednesday's defensive record this season. Stuart Gray's side have conceded just 14 times, meaning that their 18 league games have seen only 26 goals overall.

A goalless draw with Huddersfield Town last time out was the Owls' ninth clean sheet of the campaign, and only Plymouth Argyle have kept more in the Football League this season.

Gray must decide whether to stick with misfiring strikers Stevie May and Gary Taylor-Fletcher, but he is unlikely to risk Caolan Lavery from the start this weekend as the forward continues his recovery from injury.

Sheff Weds:

Recent form: DDDLDD

Possible starting lineup: Westwood; Palmer, Lees, Loovens, Helan; Drenthe, Semedo, McGugan, Maghoma; May, Nuhiu

Wigan:

Recent form: DWDLLD

Possible starting lineup: Carson; Boyce, Ramis, Barnett, Taylor; McCann, Forshaw, Espinoza; McManaman, Fortune, Maloney

Sports Mole says: 0-1