Wigan Athletic face Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday knowing that anything less than a victory will see them confirmed as the second team to drop out of the Championship this season.

The Latics trail 21st-placed Rotherham United by eight points, and will be relying on the Millers to trip up in the run-in if they are going to have any chance of survival.

Wigan Athletic

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Wigan have looked doomed for a long time now, but they all but confirmed their passage into League One next season with a 2-0 defeat to fellow relegation candidates Millwall on Tuesday night.

With both sides seven points behind Rotherham before kickoff, they knew that defeat was not an option with just three more games to go.

However, the Lancashire side shot themselves in the foot, as they had two men sent off and succumbed to their fourth defeat in six games.

Now, they must hope that they can beat Brighton to keep their faint hopes alive for another week at least.

Rotherham are able to relegate Wigan, even if the Latics win all their games, by picking up just two points in their final three matches.

However, they don't have a game this weekend as their fixture with FA Cup semi-finalists Reading has been re-arranged for another date.

This gives Gary Caldwell's side a chance to close the gap, but they face a tough task as they have the worst home record in the entire division.

They haven't won in front of their own supporters in the league since August, and haven't won a match at all since they beat Rotherham 2-1 in March.

Recent form: LDLLDL

Brighton & Hove Albion

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Brighton are not yet mathematically safe, but it is highly unlikely that they will get dragged into a late scrap as they sit seven points clear of Millwall.

However, Chris Houghton's side are stuck in a terrible run of form and have won just one in their last eight, while last time out they drew 0-0 at home to Huddersfield Town.

Their current run may be down to their woeful record in front of goal as they have scored just once in their last six games, which was an own goal by Blackburn Rovers defender Matthew Kilgallon.

The Seagulls have a tough run-in after their trip to the DW Stadium, as they follow that up with games against promotion hopefuls Watford and Middlesbrough.

They have been rather resilient on their travels this season and will fancy picking up the three points against Wigan. They have won four times away from home, and drawn on a further eight occasions.

Houghton is expected to wield the axe this summer and get rid of many of his first-team players in order to get his side in shape for a promotion push next season, so he will be casting a keen eye on their performances in the final three games.

Recent form: DWLLLD

Team News

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Wigan will be relieved to know that defender Jason Pearce has had his red card from the game at Millwall rescinded, and he is available to play this weekend.

However, Caldwell is without Martyn Waghorn who was also sent off and will be suspended for the game.

Midfielder Don Cowie and defender Andrew Taylor are pushing to start, while Chris McCann could be brought into midfield.

Brighton have lost playmaker Joao Teixeira to a broken leg for the rest of the season, while striker Sam Baldock and midfielder Solly March remain sidelined.

Chris O'Grady could replace Teixeira, while Craig Mackail-Smith is pushing to start up front.

Wigan Athletic possible starting lineup:
Carson, Boyce, Maguire, Pearce, Bong, Kvist, Perch, Cowie, McClean, Kim-Bo-Kyung, Fortune.

Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup:
Stockdale, Bruno, Dunk, Halford, Bennett, Kayal, Stephens, Calderon, O'Grady, Carayol, Best.

Head To Head

Three of the last four games between these sides have been won by the team playing away from home.

However, Brighton managed to beat the Latics earlier this season with a 1-0 victory thanks to a goal from Gary Gardner in the first minute.

Overall, the Seagulls have the better record in this fixture with seven victories to Wigan's five. There has not been a draw since 1987, when the teams met for the first time.

We say: Wigan Athletic 0-0 Brighton & Hove Albion

Wigan will have been hit hard by their loss to Millwall and it will hard for the inexperienced Caldwell to get them ready for this game, especially as they have not won at home since August.

Brighton's lack of goals is a concern and they are likely to counter this by keeping a tight shape, so we're going for a 0-0 draw which would confirm Wigan's relegation.

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