Wigan Athletic and Middlesbrough will go head to head at the DW Stadium on Wednesday in the Championship, with both teams looking to bounce back to winning ways.
At a time when the hosts find themselves in the 15th place in the league table, their visitors are currently in the relegation zone, just one point adrift of safety.
After earning promotion back to the Championship last season, Wigan have made a decent start to life in the second tier, picking up 19 points from their first 14 matches.
Despite their steady form so far, Leam Richardson’s side have struggled in home games, collecting just six points from their opening seven matches at the DW Stadium, the second-worst record in the league.
However, there may be signs of a turnaround, with Wigan securing an impressive 1-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers in their last home game through a second-half Nathan Broadhead goal.
Wigan however could not follow up their midweek win, losing by a 2-1 scoreline away at Sunderland, a result that meant the Black Cats moved above them in the league.
Meanwhile, Middlesbrough have been unable to builed on a seventh-placed finish last season, currently involved in a battle at the wrong end of the table, picking up just 13 points from their opening 14 matches.
After a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Coventry City at the start of October, Chris Wilder was sacked by the Teessiders after an 11-month spell at the club, with Leo Percovich named as the caretaker manager.
Percovich initially got off to a good start, winning 1-0 at the Riverside Stadium over Birmingham City in his first game in charge, a result that took his side out of the relegation zone.
However, Middlesbrough have since lost 2-0 away at Millwall before suffering a 2-1 home defeat to Blackburn Rovers.
Wigan Athletic vs Middlesbrough head to head
These two teams have previously met on 16 occasions across two competitions, where Wigan have claimed two victories while Middlesbrough have won six, and they have drawn in eight. Wigan have scored 11 goals and conceded 16. In their last five meetings, Middlesbrough have won three while they have drawn three.
Middlesbrough 1-0 Wigan Athletic 03/04/15
Middlesbrough 2-0 Wigan Athletic 10/11/18
Wigan Athetic 0-0 Middlesbrough 02/03/19
Middlesbrough 1-0 Wigan Athletic 20/08/19
Wigan Athletic 2-2 Middlesbrough 11/02/20
Wigan Athletic latest home form
Wigan Athletic have recently failed to keep a good run of form at home, having won just two of their seven most recent matches. They defeated Blackburn Rovers 1-0 in their last home game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored four goalsa nd conceded 10.
Wigan Athletic 1-5 Burnley 27/08/22
Wigan Athletic 1-1 West Bromwich Albion 30/08/22
Wigan Athletic 0-1 Reading 17/09/22
Wigan Athletic 1-3 Cardiff City 08/10/22
Wigan Athletic 1-0 Blackburn Rovers 11/10/22
Wigan Athletic latest away form
Wigan Athletic have recently been on a downward turn in form on the road, having lost each of their two most recent matches. They were beaten 2-1 by Sunderland in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored eight goals and conceded six.
Luton Town 1-2 Wigan Athletic 03/09/22
Huddersfield Town 1-2 Wigan Athletic 13/09/22
Rotherham United 0-2 Wigan Athletic 01/10/22
Hull City 2-1 Wigan Athletic 05/10/22
Sunderland 2-1 Wigan Athletic 15/10/22
Middlesbrough latest home form
Middlesbrough have recently failed to keep a good run of form at home, having won just two of their five most recent matches. They lost 2-1 to Blackburn Rovers in their last home game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored five goals and conceded five.
Middlesbrough 1-0 Sunderland 05/09/22
Middlesbrough 2-3 Cardiff City 13/09/22
Middlesbrough 0-0 Rotherham United 17/09/22
Middlesbrough 1-0 Birmingham City 05/10/22
Middlesbrough 1-2 Blackburn Rovers 15/10/22
Middlesbrough latest away form
Middlesbrough have recently failed to keep a good run of form on the road, having been winless in their six most recent matches. They were beaten 2-0 by Millwall in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored three goals and conceded eight.
Stoke City 2-2 Middlesbrough 17/08/22
Reading 1-0 Middlesbrough 20/08/22
Watford 2-1 Middlesbrough 30/08/22
Coventry City 1-0 Middlesbrough 01/10/22
Millwall 2-0 Middlesbrough 08/10/22
Wigan Athletic news
Wigan striker Callum Lang remains unavailable due to an ankle injury and could miss out until the end of October, and Charlie Wyke is set to start up front in his absence.
Leam Richardson has swithched to a 3-4-2-1 formation in the last two matches. with Will Keane and Nathan Broadhead expected to support Wyke.
Middlesbrough news
Middlesbrough’s Rodrigo Muniz is goalless in his last five appearances and was withdrawn early last time out, so Chuba Akpom may be the preffered choice in attack.
Duncn Watmore is set to keep his place and start alongside Akpom, having scored his side’s only goal in the game against Blackburn Rovers.
Prediction and Odds
Wigan Athletic have struggles at home so far this season, but a victory over Blackburn in their last game at the DW Stadium should act as the motivation ahead of this contest.
As such, we think that the hosts will manage to get a narrow win in front of their fans.
Odds: 1 2.22 X 2.05 2 2.88
Probable outcomes
Wigan Athletic 1-0 Middlesbrough
Wigan Athletic 2-0 Middlesbrough
Wigan Athletic 2-1 Middlesbrough
Wigan Athletic 0-0 Middlesbrough
Wigan Athletic 1-1 Middlesbrough
