Preview: Leeds United vs. Wigan Athletic

Malky Mackay is still searching for his first victory as Wigan Athletic manager, and the next chance to end his dismal start as Latics boss comes at Leeds United on Boxing Day.

The Scottish manager began his reign with an encouraging 1-1 draw at home to high-flying Middlesbrough, but since then Wigan have lost four games in a row and are bottom but one in the Championship and six points from safety.

Saturday's home defeat to fellow strugglers Rotherham United was the worst of the lot and Mackay will be hoping for a big response at Elland Road.

Their away displays this season do not point to a win, though, as the Latics have won just once on the road all season, collecting a league-low five points on their travels.

Mackay is sure to flex his muscles in the upcoming January transfer window and a striker could be top of his wishlist as the likes of Roger Espinoza and James McClean have started up front in the recent defeats to Watford and Rotherham.

Leeds's away points haul is only one better than Wigan's, but they do have a top-10 home record with 18 points from 11 games at Elland Road.

The Whites enter the match as one of the teams just above the drop zone in 18th place following Saturday evening's 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest, and have just two wins in their last 14 games.

While the draw at the City Ground was a decent result on the pitch, bad news continues to pile up off it. The Massimo Cellino ownership saga rumbles on, while defender Giuseppe Bellusci has been charged with using racist language towards Norwich City's Cameron Jerome by the Football Association.

Italian defender Bellusci hasn't played in almost a month because of injury, but he is back in training and expected to be fit for the visit of Wigan.

Leeds have an excellent Boxing Day home record in recent years, losing just once in 11 matches back in 1996 to Coventry City, while Wigan have never won a Boxing Day game in the second tier.

Leeds:

Recent form: WLWLLD

Possible starting lineup: Silvestri; Byram, Pearce, Cooper, Warnock; Cook, Bianchi, Mowatt; Adryan, Antenucci, Sharp

Wigan:

Recent form: LDLLLL

Possible starting lineup: Carson; Perch, Boyce, Barnett, Taylor; McCann, Watson; McManaman, Cowie, McClean, Fortune

Sports Mole says: 2-1