Preview: Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Wigan Athletic

Two playoff-chasing teams will go head to head in the Championship on Saturday as Brighton & Hove Albion host Wigan Athletic at the Amex Stadium.

The pair are level on points and goal difference in the table, with both sitting just four points behind sixth-placed Reading with a game in hand.

It is Brighton who will take the home advantage into the match, playing at the Amex for the fourth consecutive game having won two and drawn against Hull City in the FA Cup in that run so far.

The Seagulls have lost just once in their last six matches in all competitions, although they have found goals hard to come by of late.

They have scored just three times in their last five outings, and the last time that anybody other than Leonardo Ulloa found the net for them in the league was way back on January 11.

Ulloa's last two goals have sealed valuable 1-0 victories over Doncaster Rovers and Leeds United, ending a three-match winless streak that threatened to derail his side's playoff charge.

It is a curious fact that the away team have not scored in Brighton's last six games in the Championship, and they will be hoping to extend that record to seven with a third consecutive league clean sheet - something they have not managed all season.

They have only lost three times at home in the current campaign and are unbeaten in their last eight, although their fans have not been treated to a bagful of goals during that time.

Oscar Garcia's side have not scored more than one goal in a home game since December 7, with their seven matches since then yielding just eight goals in total.

They have kept four clean sheets in their last five home league outings and only Queens Park Rangers have conceded fewer goals than the Seagulls this season.

Garcia would like to rotate his side with an FA Cup replay against Hull coming up just 48 hours later, but the importance of the match means that he is likely to field his strongest possible side, with Andrew Crofts the only long-term injury concern.

Wigan currently possess the position just above Brighton, and they also face the problem of a potential fixture pile-up.

Their elimination from the Europa League is certainly a blessing in disguise as their defence of the FA Cup has taken them all the way to the quarter-finals, where they will face Manchester City.

The Latics have shot up the table under Uwe Rosler and now stand as good a chance as any of occupying the final playoff spot at the end of the season.

They have lost just twice in 12 league matches since Rosler took over, keeping an impressive seven clean sheets in that time.

They suffered a minor blip in terms of away form with a three-match winless streak without scoring, but bounced back emphatically with a 3-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough before shocking Premier League Cardiff City away in the FA Cup.

Ben Watson will miss the rest of the season with a broken leg, joining long-term absentees Shaun Maloney and Gary Caldwell on the sidelines, while Nick Powell is also a doubt.

Recent form

Brighton: WDLWWD

Wigan: DWLWWW

Possible starting lineups

Brighton: Kuszczak; Bruno, Upson, Greer, Ward; Ince, Andrews; Lua Lua, Stephens, Orlandi; Ulloa

Wigan: Al-Habsi; Boyce, Barnett, Perch, Beausejour; McArthur, Espinoza; McClean, McCann, Waghorn; Maynard

Sports Mole says: 1-1