EFL Championship: Game week 31
Stadium: DW Stadium
11th February 2023
On Feb 11, Wigan Athletic and Huddersfield Town, two of the three lowest-ranked teams in the Championship, will face off in a crucial match with major implications for the relegation race. Wigan has not won a match since November and has only earned two points in the league this year, while Huddersfield has yet to secure a win in the new year.
Claim Your Welcome Bonus!Wigan Athletic’s Form
Two weeks ago, Kolo Toure's brief tenure at DW Stadium came to an end with a 2-0 defeat against Luton Town. The former Liverpool player had gone nine consecutive matches without a win, which was deemed unacceptable by the club's management. To navigate through the relegation battle, the Latics have turned to a familiar and successful figure from their past, 2012-2013 FA Cup winner Shaun Maloney, who was appointed as the new manager. Maloney's first game was against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park, and despite facing a struggling team, the Latics were able to secure a draw. New January signings such as Danel Sinani, Martin Kelly, and Omar Rekik played a key role in securing the team's first clean sheet since October. The statistics highlight the primary issue for Wigan, who currently sit at the bottom of the division and have conceded 49 goals in just 29 Championship matches, more than any other team in the second tier.
Wigan Athletic’s possible starting lineup
Amos; Caulker, Whatmough, Rekik; Darikwa, Tiehi, Power, McClean; Sinai, Keane, Lang
Huddersfield Town’s Form
Huddersfield's winless streak is not as long as their opponents', however, their current form in 2023 suggests they will have difficulty retaining their second-division status. The Terriers, who were playoff finalists last year, have yet to win in either the Championship or the FA Cup this year, which has left them in 22nd place in the standings and without a manager after the recent sacking of Mark Fotheringham. Despite leading twice against Blackpool on Tuesday night with goals from Matty Pearson and Josh Koroma, Huddersfield was denied a win by a last-minute equalizer from Josh Bowler. The team's inability to hold onto leads in the later stages of games was demonstrated by a 98th-minute goal by Oscar Estupinan for Hull City earlier this month. The Terriers lost 2-1 in their previous meeting with the Latics in September, which was the final match under former manager Danny Schofield before he was let go by the club. Fans will be hoping for a better outcome this weekend.
Huddersfield Town’s predicted lineup
Vaclik; Turton, Lees, Pearson, Lowton; Kasumu, Hogg, High; Knockaert, Waghorn, Rudoni
Wigan Athletic vs Huddersfield Town expert tips
Although Wigan only earned one point in their match against Blackburn, they appeared to have improved under Maloney and will feel confident in their ability to build upon their clean sheet when they face another relegation rival this Saturday. Huddersfield is facing further difficulties after dismissing Fotheringham prior to this match and it is unlikely they will earn any results from their visit to the DW this weekend. The outcome of the match is expected to result in Wigan win with less than 2.5 goals in the game.