Preview: Doncaster Rovers vs Wigan Athletic - prediction, team news, lineups

Doncaster Rovers will welcome Wigan Athletic to the Eco-Power Stadium on Saturday for an important contest at the bottom end of the League One table.

The hosts narrowed their gap to safety with a crucial victory last time out, while their visitors sit just one point above the drop zone.

Match preview

Doncaster Rovers head into the weekend in search of back-to-back victories in their fight for League One survival.

After a pleasing start to life back in England's third tier, following promotion from League Two last time around, Grant McCann's side experienced a dramatic drop into the bottom four, as a 16-game run between mid-September and the turn of the year produced just six points and one victory.

That culminated in five straight losses in December, as Rovers conceded 16 goals along the way, but they would end the losing run with a valuable point from a 1-1 draw with Bolton Wanderers on New Year's Day, albeit being pegged back after Glenn Middleton's opener.

Then on the back of cup ties with Southampton and Fleetwood Town, McCann's men visited AFC Wimbledon last weekend and recorded a first league win since November, as Owen Bailey snatched all three points with the only goal of the game nine minutes into injury time.

Now bound to feel a boost having ended a dismal run in recent months, Doncaster Rovers have moved within a point of safety and will hope to kickstart a climb out of the bottom four on Saturday with another triumph.

Their visitors, meanwhile, head to South Yorkshire aiming to build on their slender lead over the relegation zone in the midst of a tough run of their own.

Wigan Athletic's first full season under the management of Ryan Lowe has been a tough one thus far, as they sit 18th with 30 points on the board from 25 outings.

The Latics have managed just one win and five points from their last seven league games, most recently suffering a pair of defeats either side of an FA Cup win over second-tier Preston North End.

Aiming to build on that upset, Lowe's men hosted rivals Bolton Wanderers last weekend but came away empty-handed as Josh Sheehan scored the only goal for the visitors eight minutes from time.

Now sitting just a point above the bottom four and four above the hosts, with one of the division's weakest attacking records, Wigan Athletic will bid to bounce back at the weekend and rebuild a lead over the relegation zone with an away win.

Doncaster Rovers League One form:

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Doncaster Rovers form (all competitions):

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Wigan Athletic League One form:

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Wigan Athletic form (all competitions):

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Team News

Doncaster Rovers will remain without Sean Grehan and Ben Close due to ongoing injuries.

They may be unchanged from last week's away win over AFC Wimbledon, although veteran Billy Sharp could replace Francis Okoronkwo and lead the line with support from Hakeeb Adelakun, Harry Clifton and Luke Molyneux.

Captain Owen Bailey filled in at centre-back last time out and won them the game with his eighth league goal of the season.

Wigan Athletic are unable to call on Jason Kerr, Baba Adeeko and Ryan Trevitt, as they are confined to the treatment room.

Dara Costelloe will hope to continue in the attack, while Joe Taylor may be introduced for a first start following his loan arrival from Huddersfield Town, given the Latics' struggles for goals.

Christian Saydee and Fraser Murray will also compete to return to the starting XI, while Jensen Weir and Matt Smith will again partner up in the midfield.

Doncaster Rovers possible starting lineup:

Clark; Sterry, Bailey, McGrath, Senior; Broadbent, Gotts; Molyneux, Clifton, Adelakun; Sharp

Wigan Athletic possible starting lineup:

Tickle; Fox, Carragher, Aimson; Murray, Weir, Smith, Hungbo; Costelloe; Taylor, Saydee

We say: Doncaster Rovers 1-0 Wigan Athletic

Doncaster Rovers rebuild some crucial confidence with last weekend's win and clean sheet, and we fancy them to keep their survival bid rolling with another victory over a Wigan Athletic side struggling for momentum and goals.

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