Wigan Athletic and Preston North End participate in their 31st and 32nd Sky Bet Championship respective games of the season on Saturday at the DW Stadium. Both teams enter the West Lancashire Derby on a real high after midweek victories.
Both side’s met in September last year for their earlier season encounter, where then-Wigan boss Gary Caldwell oversaw a 1-0 defeat at Deepdale, thanks to an early strike from Jordan Hugill, who will again lead the Lilywhites line at the weekend. Wigan beat Wolves on Tuesday thanks to a late Jake Buxton goal, whilst Hugill scored the winner for Preston over Birmingham on the same night.
Over the last ten league games, Preston have accumulated five more points than their rivals Wigan. A victory for Warren Joyce’s Latics could see them potentially leapfrog Burton Albion and jump out of the relegation places. Two wins in a row has increased Preston’s late push for a play-off spot, and could end the day in 7th all being well.
Team News
Wigan still have a number of absentees going into this match. Jakob Haugaard joins Adam Bogdan as long-term injuries, meaning Matt Gilks starts back-to-back games for the first time since signing from Rangers on deadline day. Reece Burke and Nick Powell are also missing, whereas Alex Gilbey and Donervon Daniels are still fighting their way back to fitness. Derby loanee Jamie Hanson is in contention to start in place of Michael Jacobs, whilst Will Grigg and Omar Bogle are likely to remain up front in a 4-4-2 system once again.
Preston are still minus first-choice right back Alex Baptiste through injury, meaning Everton loan star Tyias Browning continues in the back four. Callum Woods is out for the season, whilst Marnick Vermijl has a hernia issue, meaning Simon Grayson is short of available right backs going into the weekend. John Welsh is the only other guaranteed absentee. Paul Gallagher stands a good chance of recovering from injury and returning to the squad, but will find it hard to dislodge the in-form Daryl Horgan.
Expected Starting XIs
Wigan Athletic (4-4-2): Gilks – Connolly, Buxton, Burn, Warnock – Power, MacDonald, Morsy, Hanson – Bogle, Grigg.
Preston North End (4-4-2): Maxwell – Browning, Clarke, Huntington, Cunningham – Horgan, Pearson, Browne, McGeady – Robinson, Hugill.
Prediction
The earlier season meeting ended 1-0, and most local derbies do tend to be tight affairs. Both sides will certainly look to win this game for different reasons. Neither side do keep too many clean sheets, so us lot at The72 are nudging towards a 1-1 draw this weekend. Let us know your thoughts in the poll below!
