As their situation grows increasingly desperate, bottom-of-the-table Burton Albion are set to travel to face Wigan Athletic at the Brick Community Stadium on Tuesday in League One.
The Latics will come into the game full of confidence after another win last time out, while the Brewers are at risk of being cut adrift at the foot of the division.
Match preview
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Shaun Maloney's Wigan have won back-to-back games for the first time since November, and are now nine points above Crawley Town in the relegation zone.
Last time out, the Latics beat Stevenage 2-1 on the road in an action packed clash that saw one player dismissed on either side and was decided by a 95th minute free kick from star man Thelo Aasgaard.
That result means that Maloney's side now have 30 points to show for their 24 games played, and that they have won three and drawn one of their last six third-tier matches, a respectable return for League One's 17th-placed team.
That being said, Tuesday's hosts have won just once in their last six league games at the Brick Community Stadium - drawing one and losing four more in that stretch - and Albion may sense a rare opportunity to put points on the board in midweek.
On the other hand, Wigan may be motivated to put on a strong display for their own crowd against the league's bottom side, and will be keen make up some ground on the playoff spots with 22 fixtures remaining.
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Meanwhile, Gary Bowyer's Albion are without a win in their last nine games across all competitions, having last earned three points against Peterborough United on December 4.
That dismal form has seen Tuesday's visitors drop to the foot of the table, where they are now 11 points behind Northampton Town, the first team outside of the relegation zone.
However, the Brewers could take some hope from the fact that they have only lost one of their four most recent league matches, and even drew with high-flying Huddersfield Town in their final fixture of 2024.
Last time out, Bowyer's side drew 1-1 with fellow relegation candidates Crawley Town, and to their credit, Albion took the lead through a first-half strike from Rumarn Burrell, before Tola Showunmi fired in a leveller with less than half an hour to play.
In midweek, the visitors will be desperate to avoid defeat at the very least, knowing well that they already have a huge number of points to make up in the second part of the season, though they may have some quiet optimism ahead of the clash due to Wigan's poor home form.
Team News
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Wigan will be without Jensen Weir due to the red card he picked up against Stevenage on Saturday, so Oliver Norburn may start alongside Scott Smith in the middle of the park this week.
Unfortunately for the Latics, Jonny Smith, who was substituted on last time out, picked up an injury of his own and had to be withdrawn just six minutes after his introduction.
As a result, boss Maloney is likely to start Joseph Hungbo and Silko Thomas in wide areas to support striker Dale Taylor up top.
Elsewhere, right-back Josh Robinson may make his first appearance from the bench since signing for the club on loan from Arsenal.
As for Albion, left-back Owen Dodgson made his debut last time out after joining the club on loan from Burnley, and he is likely to continue alongside Ryan Sweeney, Terence Vancooten and Udoka Godwin-Malife in defence.
Bowyer is also likely to be missing midfielders Ciaran Gilligan and Alex Bannon, both of whom have not made a matchday squad since last month, so expect Elliot Watt and Kgagelo Chauke to continue in the middle third.
Wigan Athletic possible starting lineup:
Tickle; Sibbick, Carragher, Aimson, Robinson; Smith, Norburn; Hungbo, Aasgaard, Thomas; Taylor
Burton Albion possible starting lineup:
Crocombe; Godwin-Malife, Vancooten, Sweeney, Dodgson; Watt, Chauke; Bennett, McKiernan, Kalinauskas; Burrell
We say: Wigan Athletic 1-2 Burton Albion
As the season goes on, the likelihood of a miraculous escape by Albion is becoming less likely, though desperation may inspire a spirited performance from the visitors on Tuesday.
Given the Latics' dire home form, it is unlikely that the Brewers will get many better opportunities than this to put points on the board, but it will still be a tough fight for all three points.
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