Preview: Wigan Athletic vs. Norwich City - prediction, team news, lineups

Wigan Athletic square off against Norwich City on Saturday afternoon looking to extend their unbeaten run in the Championship to four matches.

The Latics remain in 22nd position in the standings at a time when Norwich occupy ninth spot, two points adrift of the playoff places.

Match preview

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Having lost 12 of their 31 matches in the Championship this season, Norwich have not lived up to their billing of promotion favourites, yet it remains a retrievable situation under David Wagner.

If the Canaries can collect two points per game under the German, they should make the playoffs, and nine points have come from his first five matches in charge.

On the back of defeats to Burnley and Bristol City, two of the form teams in the division, Norwich defeated another of the clubs on an upward trajectory in midweek as they overcame Hull City by a 3-1 scoreline.

That win was all the more impressive due to Norwich being required to come from behind, and they are now just three points adrift of fifth-placed Sunderland.

The East Anglian side also travel to the DW Stadium on a strong run of away form, winning four of their last six matches on the road.

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However, Norwich face Wigan when their hosts are in their best frame of mind in months, an improvement instigated by new head coach Shaun Maloney.

Since the Scot's appointment, the Latics have recorded five points in three matches, their latest point coming at Bristol City in midweek.

Although goals remain an issue for Wigan, just one strike has been conceded in that triple-header, and the foundations have been laid to move outside of the relegation zone.

While holding the worst goal difference in the division does not help matters, victory at the weekend could see Wigan move up to 21st place.

Team News

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Maloney is expected to make changes to his Wigan XI with a triple substitution at half time leading to a share of the spoils being earned at Bristol City.

Tom Pearce is in line to feature at left-back, allowing Ryan Nyambe to switch flanks, while one of Callum Lang or Will Keane should partner Ashley Fletcher.

Danel Sinani will drop out of the team due to being unable to play against his parent club.

Teemu Pukki faces being named on the Norwich substitutes' bench for the second game in succession after the Canaries impressed in his absence.

Barring any injury issues, Wagner may be prepared to go with the same team, with Arsenal loanee Marquinhos only being named as a replacement at best if he recovers from a minor strain.

Wigan Athletic possible starting lineup:

Amos; Nyambe, Hughes, Whatmough, Pearce; Aasgaard, Power, Tiehi, McClean; Lang, Fletcher

Norwich City possible starting lineup:

Gunn; Aarons, Omobamidele, Hanley, Giannoulis; McLean, Sara; Dowell, Hernandez; Sargent, Idah

We say: Wigan Athletic 1-1 Norwich City

This has all the makings of an interesting fixture given Wigan's resurgence and Norwich's inconsistencies. That leaves us to predict a competitive share of the spoils, one which will theoretically benefit the home side more so than the visitors.

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