MX23RW : Friday, December 13 15:00:47| >> :120:28282:28282:
[monks data]
Huddersfield logo
Championship
Feb 8, 2014 at 3pm UK
 
Wigan logo

1-0

Clayton (85')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Preview: Huddersfield Town vs. Wigan Athletic

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship clash between Huddersfield and playoff-chasing Wigan.

Three Championship defeats in a row seem to have put paid to any hopes Huddersfield Town had of reaching the playoffs this season.

Town now sit 13 points and eight places off the top six having won just once and lost four times in 2014 so far, leaving them set for a midtable finish this season.

Mark Robins's side are equally unlikely to be dragged into a relegation battle, although they will need to pick themselves up after blowing a one-goal lead to lose 5-1 to Leeds United in a Yorkshire derby last Saturday.

Huddersfield have been largely inconsistent so far this season, although they have established themselves as a tough team to beat at home, with only three visiting teams winning at the John Smith's Stadium in the league.

Nahki Wells is expected to start up front once again for the hosts as top scorer James Vaughan continues his recovery from injury, while Peter Clarke and Joel Lynch are all also doubts.

In contrast to Huddersfield, Wigan's playoff hopes are still very alive thanks to a quick response to their first defeat under manager Uwe Rosler.

The Latics have won two games and drawn another since their shock 3-0 loss to Doncaster Rovers, leaving them seven points behind sixth-placed Reading with two games in hand.

Rosler's record as Wigan boss now stands at just one defeat in 12 matches in all competitions, and if he can keep that form up until the end of the season then they would have a great chance of making the playoffs.

They have only lost one of their last five matches on their travels in all competitions, but a minor concern could be that they haven't scored on the road in their last two games.

Long-term absentees Shaun Maloney and Gary Caldwell remain out, but Nick Powell should return to the side to start alongside Nicky Maynard for the first time.

Recent form

Huddersfield: WWLLLL

Wigan: WWLWDW

Possible starting lineups

Huddersfield: Smithies; Wallace, Gerrard, Smith; Hammill, Clayton, Hogg, Norwood, Dixon; Wells, Ward

Wigan: Al-Habsi; Perch, Barnett, Boyce, Beausejour; McArthur, Watson; McClean, Powell, McManaman; Maynard

Sports Mole says: 1-2


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Written by
Barney Corkhill
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New manager of Wigan Athletic, Uwe Rosler, looks on during the Sky Bet Championship match between Sheffield Wednesday and Wigan Athletic at Hillsborough Stadium on December 18, 2013
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Wycombe WanderersWycombe18124239211840
2Wrexham19124328111740
3Birmingham CityBirmingham17123232161639
4Huddersfield TownHuddersfield18112528161235
5Stockport CountyStockport1996431191233
6Reading189453025531
7Bolton WanderersBolton179352827130
8Barnsley197662725227
9Lincoln CityLincoln197662423127
10Mansfield TownMansfield177372222024
11Exeter CityExeter187381619-324
12Charlton AthleticCharlton186571819-123
13Blackpool186572631-523
14Stevenage176471316-322
15Peterborough UnitedPeterborough186393332121
16Leyton Orient186391920-121
17Northampton TownNorthampton195682126-521
18Bristol Rovers186391726-921
19Wigan AthleticWigan185581516-120
20Rotherham UnitedRotherham175571620-420
21Crawley TownCrawley185491728-1119
22Cambridge UnitedCambridge1844101829-1116
23Burton Albion1825111630-1411
24Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury1832131835-1711


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