MX23RW : Sunday, January 12 19:07:38| >> :600:146463:146463:
[monks data]
Huddersfield logo
Championship
Feb 8, 2014 at 3pm UK
 
Wigan logo

1-0

Clayton (85')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Preview: Huddersfield Town vs. Wigan Athletic

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship clash between Huddersfield and playoff-chasing Wigan.

Three Championship defeats in a row seem to have put paid to any hopes Huddersfield Town had of reaching the playoffs this season.

Town now sit 13 points and eight places off the top six having won just once and lost four times in 2014 so far, leaving them set for a midtable finish this season.

Mark Robins's side are equally unlikely to be dragged into a relegation battle, although they will need to pick themselves up after blowing a one-goal lead to lose 5-1 to Leeds United in a Yorkshire derby last Saturday.

Huddersfield have been largely inconsistent so far this season, although they have established themselves as a tough team to beat at home, with only three visiting teams winning at the John Smith's Stadium in the league.

Nahki Wells is expected to start up front once again for the hosts as top scorer James Vaughan continues his recovery from injury, while Peter Clarke and Joel Lynch are all also doubts.

In contrast to Huddersfield, Wigan's playoff hopes are still very alive thanks to a quick response to their first defeat under manager Uwe Rosler.

The Latics have won two games and drawn another since their shock 3-0 loss to Doncaster Rovers, leaving them seven points behind sixth-placed Reading with two games in hand.

Rosler's record as Wigan boss now stands at just one defeat in 12 matches in all competitions, and if he can keep that form up until the end of the season then they would have a great chance of making the playoffs.

They have only lost one of their last five matches on their travels in all competitions, but a minor concern could be that they haven't scored on the road in their last two games.

Long-term absentees Shaun Maloney and Gary Caldwell remain out, but Nick Powell should return to the side to start alongside Nicky Maynard for the first time.

Recent form

Huddersfield: WWLLLL

Wigan: WWLWDW

Possible starting lineups

Huddersfield: Smithies; Wallace, Gerrard, Smith; Hammill, Clayton, Hogg, Norwood, Dixon; Wells, Ward

Wigan: Al-Habsi; Perch, Barnett, Boyce, Beausejour; McArthur, Watson; McClean, Powell, McManaman; Maynard

Sports Mole says: 1-2


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Written by
Barney Corkhill
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New manager of Wigan Athletic, Uwe Rosler, looks on during the Sky Bet Championship match between Sheffield Wednesday and Wigan Athletic at Hillsborough Stadium on December 18, 2013
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Birmingham CityBirmingham23165241172453
2Wycombe WanderersWycombe25156450272351
3Wrexham25156437181951
4Huddersfield TownHuddersfield24145537191847
5Barnsley2512673933642
6Reading2412573933641
7Stockport CountyStockport25108737271038
8Leyton Orient24114932221037
9Mansfield TownMansfield2311483126537
10Bolton WanderersBolton2411493637-137
11Charlton AthleticCharlton239772721634
12Lincoln CityLincoln258892830-232
13Rotherham UnitedRotherham248792424031
14Stevenage238781820-231
15Exeter CityExeter2494112831-331
16Blackpool247983235-330
17Wigan AthleticWigan2376102123-227
18Northampton TownNorthampton2568112439-1526
19Peterborough UnitedPeterborough2474134146-525
20Bristol Rovers2474132238-1625
21Crawley TownCrawley2355132443-1920
22Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury2445152444-2017
23Cambridge UnitedCambridge2445152243-2117
24Burton Albion2428142038-1814


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