Wigan Athletic will be looking to record their first win under new manager Kolo Toure when they host Sunderland in the Championship on Thursday night at the DW Stadium.
The Black Cats had a successful Boxing Day after a last-minute goal was enough to beat high-flying Blackburn Rovers, whereas Wigan are continuing to struggle at the foot of the second tier despite a change in management.
Match preview
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After a valiant performance and subsequent point in Toure's first game at the helm against Millwall, Wigan fans were looking forward to a new era at the club and targeting an ascent up the Championship table.
However, the Latics have been brought tumbling back down to earth by successive defeats to Sheffield United and Middlesbrough, with the ex-Liverpool defender seeing with his own eyes the enormity of the task he has taken on in Lancashire.
Toure did not criticise the character of his players after their 4-1 loss at the Riverside Stadium on Boxing Day, although he admitted his side needed to show more aggression in their play after they allowed Chuba Akpom to net a hat-trick too easily on Teesside.
Wigan have now won only once in their last 11 Championship fixtures, a run which has seen them fall into the relegation places in the second tier, with an immediate return to League One after last season's title win seeming a distinct possibility.
The Latics are entering a crucial stage of their campaign with fellow strugglers Cardiff City and Hull City to come at the start of January, meaning Toure needs to get his new set of players to start collecting points before they are cut adrift in the league standings.
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Despite the World Cup break, Sunderland have already played four Championship games in December as they aim to secure back-to-back promotions after they ended a four-year tussle with League One last campaign.
On Boxing Day, the Black Cats fought back from 1-0 down to earn a maximum against an out-of-form Blackburn side, with Ellis Simms providing a 91st-minute winner off the bench at the Stadium of Light.
Over 40,000 home supporters erupted when the ex-Everton forward managed to toe his effort past Thomas Kaminski into the Rovers' net, with those of a Sunderland persuasion now dreaming of a top-six finish in their first season back at this level.
Ross Stewart was the other scorer for Sunderland on Monday, with the 26-year-old bursting back onto the Championship stage after an injury sustained in September, having scored two in as many games since returning to first-team action.
Another player to impress for the Black Cats has been Manchester United loanee Amad Diallo, who has netted five times in 17 appearances so far during his first taste of regular football in England.
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Despite being part of a Wigan side who conceded four times at the Riverside on Boxing Day, 19-year-old Charlie Hughes impressed during his Championship debut and should regain his place in the XI alongside Curtis Tilt in central defence.
The youngster's rise into the first-team fold has been accelerated by injuries to senior players in defence, with Jack Whatmough sidelined until the middle of January after picking up a hamstring injury in the defeat to Sheffield United before Christmas.
Jason Kerr is another backline option currently unavailable for the Latics and is not expected to feature again this season following a serious ligament injury in November.
Sunderland will be unable to call on the services of Aji Alese, Lynden Gooch and Dennis Cirkin for at least the next two Championship fixtures, with the latter two picking up injuries during the win over Blackburn.
Tony Mowbray's options are depleting further as 2023 approaches, with defender Danny Batth also set to miss the trip to Wigan, although the player is not far away from a return.
Wigan Athletic possible starting lineup:
Jones; Nyambe, Hughes, Tilt, McClean; Power, Cousins, Lang, Keane, Aasgaard; Broadhead
Sunderland possible starting lineup:
Patterson; Wright, Ballard, O'Nien, Hume; Evans, Neil, Roberts, Diallo, Clarke; Stewart
We say: Wigan Athletic 1-3 Sunderland
Wigan are entering a pivotal stage in their Championship season and need to pick up some points in order to close the gap between themselves and second-tier safety.
Sunderland have quality options in attacking areas and are showing why rival fans should not be underestimating their playoff credentials this campaign, with a win at the DW Stadium potentially enough to take them into the top six.
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