Wigan Athletic vs Ipswich Town
EFL Championship
Date: Saturday, 17th December, 2016.
Kick-Off at 15:00 UK
Venue: DW Stadium, Wigan.
PREVIEW
Neither team is in the best of form but both are desperately in need of points to kick start their season, the clubs are the division's two lowest scorers and have collected just seven points apiece from their respective last seven games.
Ipswich have not got the best of records away from Portman Road, but then Latics have not managed a win at the DW in five matches and so something must give in that regard.
Warren Joyce is still looking for his first home win in charge of Latics and while the performances have been full of energy and commitment, the manager has openly stated his team needs to find a bit more quality in the final third and turn opportunities into goals.
For Ipswich, who are notoriously loyal when it comes to their managers, you would hope Mick McCarthy’s position is not under threat. The former Republic of Ireland boss is one of football’s most experienced coaches, who has an excellent track record and is also one of the most likeable and engaging characters on the circuit.
That said, and despite the financial restrictions he has had to work under at Portman Road, football boardrooms in the bottom half of the Championship can become twitchy places – only McCarthy and former Latics boss Owen Coyle at Blackburn have survived from the start of the season within the eight bottom clubs of the division.
Bottom line, this is a big game for both clubs.
TEAM NEWS
For Latics, Warren Joyce is optimistic that Luke Garbutt, Craig Morgan and Shaun MacDonald, who all came off early on Wednesday against Newcastle, will be fit enough to join the squad, and they will be assessed after training on Friday.
Reece Burke, however, is still out with his hip problem but Andy Kellett could start after coming on in place of Garbutt as an emergency right-back for his first taste of action since March.
For Ipswich, Mick McCarthy had named an unchanged side for the three previous games before the midweek defeat at Birmingham City, Myles Kenlock replacing Jonas Knudsen at left back. However, the Ipswich boss has hinted he will shuffle his pack for this one, saying:
'We need a spark from somewhere. If you keep playing the same team and not getting results then I’d be bonkers not to change it, wouldn’t I?' As to what those changes will be, Brett Pitman, Jonny Williams and Freddie Sears, who all came off the bench in midweek, could come into contention. Knudsen is available again after missing out at St Andrew’s with a tight hamstring."
Wigan Athletic vs Ipswich Town: Head to Head Statistics
The two teams have met only 9 times in the past, with Wigan having the greater share of the game. Wigan have won 6 of their previous 9 meetings, they have drawn once and lost twice to Ipswich Town.
The meetings at DW Stadium have seen Wigan won 3 times and list just once to Ipswich. Ipswich came out victorious in their last meeting against Wigan at this ground.
Wigan Athletic vs Ipswich Town: Prediction
The two teams are in a very poor condition at the moment, thus there are no favorite in the game. However, Wigan have had the better chunk of their previous meetings and were favored in paper. Putting all analysis into consideration, we expect a tight contest but a draw is out of the balance. So opting a double chance for any team to win is the safe option for this match. Both teams had serious trouble to score goals in recent weeks. Therefore, expect a lower turnout of goals in this match.
Wigan Athletic vs Ipswich Town: Bet Tips
Double Chance – Wigan or Ipswich to win at 1.40
Both teams to score (no) at 1.78.
