Wigan Athletic will be aiming to continue their impressive 2021-22 campiagn when they travel to Colchester United in the FA Cup second round.
While Wigan are currently second in League One, Colchester are heading into the game down at position 18 in the fourth tier.
Leam Richardson has been in the headlines this week, with striker Charlie Wyke praising him after being credited with saving the life of his player after a cardiac arrest.
He will however want focus to stricktly turn back into their efforts on the pitch with Wigan moving on a fine campaign on all fronts.
Despite making progress in the EFL Trophy earlier in the week, Richardson will be eager for them to get a promotion and an FA Cup run, both of which are within their reach.
Wigan were in need of a replay to defeat Solihull Moors in the first round, though momentum was maintained with the North-West club having gone eight games unbeaten in all competitions.
They have collected thirteen points in the league, with Will Keane continuing his impressive season with a goal and an assist during the victory over Plymouth Argyle last weekend.
Hayden Mullins is arguably fortunate to still be in job at Cochester, with the club having failed to live up to the pre-season expectations.
However, there still are small signs of them starting to perform well upwards, earning seven points form their last four fixtures in League Two.
Six out of their 16 goals for the season have been scored during those four games, with Freddie Sears taking his tally for the season to seven with a goal in all except one.
Colchester are currently six points above the relagation zone, and they reached this stage of the competition with a 4-0 victory over AFC Sudbury.
Colchester United vs Wigan Athletic head to head
The pair have previously had 20 meetings, and apparently they seem to be level on performance with only goals separating them. They have both won 8 and drawn 4 matches across all competitions. Wigan have scored 32 goals and conceded 27 in the process.
Colchester United 2-2 Wigan Athletic 20/04/02
Colchester United 1-0 Wigan Athletic 31/08/02
Wigan Athletic 2-1 Colchester United 18/01/03
Wigan Athletic 5-0 Colchester United 17/10/15
Colchester United 3-3 Wigan Athletic 12/03/16
Colchester United latest home form
Colchester have recently been in a relatively good form at home, having not lost in any of their last three matches on the home turf. Their last loss was on October 26th when they were defeated 3-1 with Sutton United. In their last five, they have won two, drawn two and lost one.
Colchester United 1-1 Bristol Rovers 19/10/21
Colchester United 1-3 Sutton United 26/10/21
Colchester United 2-1 Scunthorp United 30/10/21
Colchester United 3-1 Exeter City 23/11/21
Colchester United 1-1 Newport County 26/11/21
Colchester United latest away form
They won their last match on the road which depicts a good form on their side. However, Colchester had lost two successive matches prior to that, one loss being in the EFL Trophy through penalties. In their last five away, they have won two and lost two in all competitions.
Port Vale 3-0 Colchester United 23/10/21
AFC Sudbury 0-4 Colchester United 05/11/21
Ipswich Town (p)0-0 Colchester United 09/11/21
Stevenage 1-0 Colchester United 20/11/21
Swindon Town 1-2 Colchester United 30/11/21
Wigan Athletic latest home form
Wigan Athletic have most recently been in good form at home, having not lost in any of their last three matches. In the last three, they won one in the league 2-0 over Burton Albion, one in the EFL Trophy 2-0 over Shrewsbury Town and one draw in the FA Cup 0-0 with Solihull Moors.
Wigan Athletic 1-2 Milton Keynes Dons 19/10/21
Wigan Athletic 1-2 Lincoln City 26/10/21
Wigan Athletic 2-0 Burton Albion 30/10/21
Wigan Athletic 0-0 Solihull Moors 06/11/21
Wigan Athletic 2-0 Shrewsbury Town 10/11/21
Wigan Athletic latest away form
The Latics have been running on a good form on the road unlike at home, having not lost in any of their last seven away matches across all competition, with their last win being in the penalties after picking up a 1-1 draw from Acrrington Stanley in the EFL Trophy.
Fleetwood Town 2-3 Wigan Athletic 02/11/21
Solihull Moors 1-2(E) Wigan Athletic 16/11/21
Cambridge United 2-2 Wigan Athletic 23/11/21
Plymouth Argyle 1-2 Wigan Athletic 27/11/21
Accrington Stanley 1-1(p) Wigan Athletic 30/11/21
Colchester United news
Mullins made a few changes for their EFL Trophy game with Swindon. However, Sunday’s squad could be the same to the one who played Newport County last week, with Alan Judge as an alternative in midfield. Charlie Daniels could also return at the left-back.
Wigan Athletic news
Richardson made 10 changes for the EFL Trophy match with Accrington Stanley, and is likely to return back to the Wigan starting XI who played against Plymouth.
Despite scoring in midweek, Stephen Humphrys is most likely to be on the substitutes, alongside Tom Bayliss and Gavin Massey.
Prediction and Odds
Colchester have recently improved and would come into this game with a fighting spirit looking for a victory. However, Wigan are strong in the defence and have been running on a good form in their travels. So we are backing the visitors to take the victory in this match.
Odds: 1 3.78 X 3.25 2 1.80
Probable outcomes
Colchester United 0-1 Wigan Athletic
Colchester United 0-2 Wigan Athletic
Colchester United 1-2 Wigan Athletic
Colchester United 2-3 Wigan Athletic
Colchester United 2-2 Wigan Athletic
