Preview: Blackburn Rovers vs. Wigan Athletic

Things are beginning to look up for Wigan Athletic, who have finally found some form after a poor start to the new Championship season.

They will go into Saturday's match away to Blackburn Rovers on the back to consecutive victories having started the campaign with a four-game winless streak.

A narrow victory over troubled Blackpool would not have done too much to inspire the fans that they could go on to fulfil their pre-season predictions of automatic promotion, but a 4-0 win over Birmingham City before the international break certainly will have done.

Manager Uwe Rosler will be hoping that the latter result is a platform for them to build off for the rest of the campaign as he looks to recapture the sort of form his side showed when he first took over from Owen Coyle last season.

There have been matters to get excited about off the field during the international break as well, with Wigan enjoying a busy and successful transfer deadline day.

The departure of James McArthur was undoubtedly a blow to the Latics, but Andy Delort, Adam Forshaw and William Kvist all arrived at the DW Stadium to strengthen the squad, while loanee Emyr Huws made his move from Manchester City permanent.

All of the new arrivals are in contention to start this weekend, while James McClean has also returned to training and could play some part.

Blackburn, meanwhile, have begun the season with the same problem that cost them a real playoff push last time around - inconsistency.

Two wins, two defeats and a draw from their opening five games will not exactly have Gary Bowyer at panic stations, but he will know that his side need to start stringing results together if they are to challenge for the top six this season.

A 3-1 defeat at the hands of Wolverhampton Wanderers last time out has left Rovers 14th going into this weekend's match and, although it is still very early days, Bowyer will be wary of falling too far behind the leading pack.

Blackburn weren't the busiest of clubs in the transfer window, with Shane Duffy's arrival from Everton their only piece of deadline-day business in terms of incomings.

However, perhaps the most important deal they struck was keeping striker Jordan Rhodes at the club despite heavy interest from the Premier League, and the Scot is expected to start up front once again this weekend.

In-form partner Rudy Gestede will likely rejoin Rhodes up front having missed the Wolves match, while Matt Kilgallon is nearing a return to full fitness.

Recent form

Blackburn: DLWLWL

Wigan: DLLLWW

Possible starting lineups

Blackburn: Robinson; Lowe, Hanley, Duffy, Olsson; Conway, Evans, Cairney, Marshall; Gestede, Rhodes

Wigan: Carson; Perch, Ramis, Kiernan, Taylor; Cowie, Forshaw, Huws; McClean, Delort, McManaman

Sports Mole says: 2-3