MX23RW : Tuesday, July 28 07:54:18| >> :600:290543:290543:
Jul 18, 2020 at 12.30pm UK at The Valley
CharltonCharlton Athletic
2-2
WiganWigan Athletic
Doughty (11'), Bonne (90+3')
Morgan (90+5')
FT(HT: 1-2)
Lowe (9'), Dowell (40')
Williams (43'), Kipre (63'), Morsy (73')

Preview: Charlton Athletic vs. Wigan Athletic - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship fixture between Charlton Athletic and Wigan Athletic, including team news and predicted lineups.

Wigan Athletic travel to The Valley to face Charlton Athletic knowing that victory could be enough to secure their Championship future, despite the prospect of suffering a 12-point deduction due to being placed into administration.

Meanwhile, the Addicks head into Saturday's encounter sitting a point above the relegation zone with a superior goal difference to their rivals.


Match preview

Wigan Athletic manager Paul Cook pictured on June 27, 2020© Reuters

While everyone associated with Wigan were naturally left deflated when learning that the club had been placed into administration, there is an argument that the turmoil off the pitch is only uniting the players on it.

Although the Latics effectively remain outside of the relegation zone on goal difference, their 8-0 victory over direct rivals Hull City on Tuesday night ensured that the clubs around them must avoid defeats over their closing games in order to overtake them.

The demolition of the Tigers also extended Wigan's return to eight wins and two draws from 11 matches, a run which has remarkably featured 10 clean sheets.

Paul Cook will stress to his players that they still have plenty of work to do in order to avoid dropping into League One, but a meeting with another of the clubs around them is arguably the perfect fixture at this time.

Having witnessed his Charlton side put together a five-match winless streak, Lee Bowyer's opinion may differ to his counterpart in the opposite dugout.

Despite the Addicks managing to remain outside of the bottom three, Bowyer will feel that they need to get at least one more win on the board to avoid relegation.

That elusive victory looked like coming in midweek as they headed into the 90th minute of their meeting with Birmingham City with a 1-0 advantage.

However, for the third time in four matches, Charlton conceded a pivotal goal during the closing quarter-of-an-hour, costing them the chance to sit four points clear of 22nd place.

Nevertheless, possessing a better goal difference than Hull, Luton Town and Barnsley, Bowyer will recognise the significance of avoiding defeat at the weekend.

Charlton Athletic Championship form: WDLLLD

Wigan Athletic Championship form: WWLWDW


Team News

Charlton boss Lee Bowyer on June 20, 2020© Reuters

Bowyer must decide whether to stick with the 4-4-2 formation which was used against Birmingham or revert to a 3-5-1-1 strategy which has proven effective in the past.

Home advantage may encourage a similar lineup to Wednesday evening, although Chuks Aneke may be preferred to Tomer Hemed in attack.

Naby Sarr is also in contention to get the nod at left-back, or as a replacement for either Tom Lockyer or Jason Pearce in the middle.

Wigan will continue to be without Daniel Fox, who serves the second of a three-match suspension.

Cook must decide whether to risk Leon Balogun after his return from injury in midweek.

Charlton Athletic possible starting lineup:
Phillips; Matthews, Lockyer, Pearce, Doughty; McGeady, Cullen, Field, Williams; Bonne, Aneke

Wigan Athletic possible starting lineup:
Marshall; Byrne, Kipre, Balogun, Robinson; Williams, Morsy; Naismith, Dowell, Lowe; Moore


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Charlton Athletic 1-2 Wigan Athletic

Charlton have shown in the past that they are capable of keeping things tight at the back. However, on the back of such a commanding win in midweek, we cannot predict anything other than a Wigan win, potentially via a late goal.


ID:406667:

Who will win Saturday's Championship clash between Charlton Athletic and Wigan Athletic?

Charlton Athletic
Draw
Wigan Athletic
Charlton Athletic
33.9%
Draw
15.3%
Wigan Athletic
50.8%
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Grant McCann in charge of Hull City on August 3, 2019
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rhs 2.0
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CLeeds UnitedLeeds46289977354293
2Fulham4724121166481884
4Brentford472491480394181
5Swansea CitySwansea4719161263531073
6Cardiff CityCardiff471916126860873
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest461816125850870
8Millwall461717125751668
9Preston North EndPreston461812165954566
10Derby CountyDerby461713166264-264
11Blackburn RoversBlackburn461712176663363
12Bristol City461712176065-563
13Queens Park RangersQPR461610206776-958
14Reading461511205958156
15Stoke CityStoke46168226268-656
16Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds461511205866-856
17Middlesbrough461314194861-1353
18Huddersfield TownHuddersfield461312215270-1851
19Luton TownLuton46149235482-2851
20Birmingham CityBirmingham461214205475-2150
21Barnsley461213214969-2049
RCharlton AthleticCharlton461212225065-1548
RWigan AthleticWigan461514175756147
RHull City46129255787-3045

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